District of New Mexico
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Navajo Man from Breadsprings, N.m., Arrested on Federal Murder ChargeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Troy Livingston, 18, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Breadsprings, N.M., made his initial appearance in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., this morning on a criminal complaint charging him with murdering a Navajo woman with malice aforethought. Livingston remains in custody pending a preliminary hearing and a detention hearing, both of which are scheduled for April 9, 2019.
The criminal complaint alleges that Livingston beat the victim to death with a flashlight and his feet at a residence Breadsprings, which is located in the Navajo Indian Reservation, on April 6, 2019. According to the criminal complaint, the victim was Livingston’s girlfriend.
If convicted of the charge in the criminal complaint, Livingston faces a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Charges in criminal complaints are only accusations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case was investigated by the Gallup office of the FBI and the Crownpoint office of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Cowen is prosecuting the case.
Las Cruces Middle School Principal Arrested on Federal Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Joel Aguilar Villanueva, 42, of Las Cruces, N.M., made his initial appearances in federal court in Las Cruces this morning on a criminal complaint charging him with transporting child pornography in interstate or foreign commerce and possession of child pornography. According to the criminal complaint, Villanueva is the principal of a middle school in Las Cruces public school system. Villanueva remains in custody pending a preliminary hearing and a detention hearing, both of which are scheduled for April 9, 2019.
The investigation resulting in the charges against Villanueva began in Oct. 2018, when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a tip that a certain Twitter account was being used to share videos of suspected child pornography. The investigation revealed that the Twitter account allegedly was subscribed to Villanueva, who listed a Las Cruces-area apartment as his residence. On April 3, 2019, law enforcement officers executed a state search warrant at the apartment, and seized an external hard drive that contained suspected child pornography. Villanueva was arrested while the officers were executing the search warrant.
If convicted of the charges in the criminal complaint, Villanueva faces a statutory mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years of imprisonment on the transportation of child pornography charge, and a maximum 20 years of imprisonment on the possession of child pornography charge.
Charges in criminal complaints are only accusations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of Homeland Security Investigations, the New Mexico State Police, the Las Cruces Police Department, and the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa A. Ong is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
Texas Woman Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for FederalRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Selma Morales, 55, of Lubbock, Tex., was sentenced today in federal court in Santa Fe, NM, to 24 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release for her conviction on a wire fraud charge arising from a scheme to defraud her employer. Morales also was ordered to pay $924,311 in restitution to her former employer.
According to court records, from May 2009 through May 2015, Morales engaged in a scheme to defraud her former employer, a law firm headquartered in Lubbock with offices in Albuquerque, Hobbs and Las Cruces, NM, of more than $550,000, which she used for unauthorized personal charges and expenditures. At the time, Morales was the law firm’s financial manager and bookkeeper.
Morales pleaded guilty in Sept. 2017, and admitted abusing her position as a trusted, high-level employee who managed the law firm’s day-to-day finances to perpetuate her fraudulent scheme. She acknowledged having access to the law firm’s bank accounts and credit cards in connection with her employment, and using the law firm’s credit cards to pay for personal expenses, including meals, groceries, car repairs, car and home insurance, property taxes, funeral expenses for a relative, clothing, sports apparel and equipment, designer products, jewelry, and plastic surgery. She also used the law firm’s credit cards to pay for family vacations and travel (including trips to San Francisco, Calif., Seattle, Wash., and Las Vegas, Nev.), entertainment (including season tickets to college athletic events, concerts and NBA playoff tickets), apartment rental payments, and college tuition payments. Morales also used her position as well as information about her employer to conceal her fraudulent activity.
The case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret M. Vierbuchen and Brandon L. Fyffe.
Navajo Man from Shiprock Sentenced ToRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – This morning a federal judge in Albuquerque, NM, sentenced Thomas M. Navaho, 26, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Shiprock, NM, to 51 months of imprisonment based on his previously entered guilty plea to an assault charge.
Navaho was convicted of assaulting a Navajo man on April 27, 2018, on the Navajo Indian Reservation in San Juan County, N.M. Court documents reflect that Navaho punched, kicked, choked, and threatening to kill the victim because he believed the victim called the police regarding a fight Navaho previously had with another person. The victim sustained serious bodily injuries, including bleeding on the brain, a broken rib, lacerations requiring stitches and a wound to his left hand which became infected and required surgery, as the result of the assault.
This case was investigated by the Farmington office of the FBI and the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall.
Former Youth Minister from Las Cruces Sentenced to 71 MonthsRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Stephen Mendoza Arellano, 31, of Las Cruces, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court to a 71 month term of imprisonment followed by 15 years of supervised release based on his previously entered guilty plea to the offense of traveling in interstate commerce for the purpose of engaging in sexual contact with a minor.
Arellano pled guilty on April 9, 2018, and admitted that in the early summer of 2017, he began to pursue a romantic relationship with the 15-year-old minor victim, whom he knew through the Apostolic Assembly Church and their families’ relationship. He further admitted that in June 2017, he traveled from Las Cruces to El Paso, Texas, with the intent to engage in illicit sexual contact with the victim.
According to court records, at the time he committed the offense, Arellano was an ordained minister of the Apostolic Assembly Church and was serving as the Church’s District of New Mexico Youth President. He was also a National Ordained Minister for the Apostolic Assembly Church, at the time, held the title of District of New Mexico Youth President, and was a member of the same church as the victim. The child victim who was 15-years-old when he began contacting her. HSI initiated the investigation into Arellano after receiving a report from the parents of Arellano’s victim.
This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of HSI and the Las Cruces Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marisa A. Ong and Aaron O. Jordan as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
Federal Grand Jury Returns Superseding Indictment against Five Amalia, New Mexico Compound DefendantsRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury sitting in Albuquerque, New Mexico returned a superseding indictment on March 13 charging Jany Leveille, 36, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, 40, Hujrah Wahhaj, 38, Subhanah Wahhaj, 36, and Lucas Morton, 41, with federal offenses related to terrorism, kidnapping and firearms violations. The announcement was made by Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers for the National Security Division, U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson for the District of New Mexico, Assistant Director Michael McGarrity of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division and Special Agent in Charge James Langenberg of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office.
These defendants were previously charged by indictment on Sept. 11, 2018, with a conspiracy relating to the possession of firearms and ammunition by an alien illegally and unlawfully in the United States. The original indictment also charged Leveille with possessing firearms and ammunition as an alien illegally and unlawfully in the United States.
The superseding indictment charges all of the defendants with participating in a conspiracy from October 2017 to August 2018 to provide material support and resources, including currency, training, weapons, and personnel, knowing and intending that they were to be used in preparation for and in carrying out attacks to kill officers and employees of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2339A.
“The indictment alleges that the defendants conspired to provide material support in preparation for violent attacks against federal law enforcement officers and members of the military,” said Assistant Attorney General Demers. “Advancing beliefs through terror and violence has no place in America, and the National Security Division continues to make protecting against terrorism its top priority.”
“The superseding indictment alleges a conspiracy to stage deadly attacks on American soil,” said U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson. “These allegations remind us of the dangers of terrorism that continue to confront our nation, and the allegation concerning the death of a young child only underscores the importance of prompt and effective intervention by law enforcement. I commend the FBI, DHS, ATF, Taos County Sheriff’s Office, and the Eighth Judicial District Attorney’s Office for their ongoing diligence and outstanding work in identifying and disabling imminent threats of targeted violence. ”
“The defendants in this case allegedly were preparing for deadly attacks and their targets included law enforcement and military personnel, the very people who are committed to protecting all of us,” said Assistant Director McGarrity. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to uncover and put a stop to acts of terrorism.”
“During this lengthy and complex investigation, the safety of the community as well as that of the children at the Amalia compound has been our priority,” said Special Agent in Charge Langenberg. “Cases such as these sometimes take a while, but the FBI will never give up until justice is done.”
As alleged in the superseding indictment, these defendants conspired to provide material support in preparation for violent attacks against officers and employees of the United States. According to the superseding indictment, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj and Hujrah Wahhaj gathered firearms and ammunition, and all of the defendants transported people, firearms, and ammunition across state lines and constructed a training compound where they stored firearms and ammunition. The superseding indictment further alleges that Siraj Ibn Wahhaj and Morton constructed and maintained a firing range at the compound where they engaged in firearms and tactical training for other compound occupants, and that Leveille and Morton attempted to recruit others to their cause.
The superseding indictment also charges Leveille, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, and Morton with conspiring to attack and kill officers and employees of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1117. It was a part and an object of the conspiracy that the defendants would kill officers and employees of the United States, specifically, Federal Bureau of Investigation employees, government officials, and military personnel.
The superseding indictment also charges Leveille, Hujrah Wahhaj, Subhanah Wahhaj, and Morton with kidnapping and conspiracy to commit kidnapping. According to the superseding indictment, they kidnapped a child under the age of eighteen in Georgia and transported the child to New Mexico, where they concealed and held the child, resulting in the child’s death.
The superseding indictment also includes the charges from the original indictment. All of the defendants are currently in custody awaiting trial.
Indictments are only accusations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
The Albuquerque Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case, with the assistance of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Taos County Sheriff’s Office, and the Eighth Judicial District Attorney’s Office. The prosecution of the case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys George C. Kraehe and Kimberly A. Brawley and Trial Attorneys Troy A. Edwards, Jr. and David Cora of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
Three Men Sentenced for Multi-State Crime Spree Including Carjacking and Pharmacy Robberies in Wyoming and New MexicoRead the Press Release
New Mexico residents Antoine Mitchell, Moses D. Dickens III, and Christopher Dominguez, were all sentenced in a Cheyenne federal court recently after pleading guilty to crimes related to a violent crime spree that included armed pharmacy robberies in Wyoming and New Mexico.
On October 6, 2016, the three men, disguised in ski masks, kidnapped a woman at gunpoint in Wheatland, Wyoming, and dropped her at a remote location west of Wheatland before driving her Ford Edge and their own car to the Medicap Pharmacy in Cheyenne, Wyoming. There, again disguised, they fired shots and demanded painkillers, including OxyContin and Oxycodone. After exchanging gunfire with the pharmacist, the robbers fled in the Ford Edge, abandoned it shortly thereafter, and left Wyoming in their own car.
Despite a detailed and thorough investigation by the Cheyenne Police Department, the crimes in Wyoming went unsolved until December 3, 2016, when Mitchell, Dickens, and Dominguez robbed another pharmacy at gunpoint in Raton, New Mexico, fleeing with OxyContin, Morphine, Promethazine, cough syrup, and Ketamine. After a high-speed chase with the Raton Police Department, the three men were apprehended and charged in federal court in New Mexico.
In a joint effort by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Wyoming, the Platte County Sheriff’s Office, the Wheatland Police Department, the Cheyenne Police Department, the Wyoming State Crime Laboratory, and with the courageous assistance of the victims in Wyoming, Mitchell, Dickens, and Dominguez were linked to their crimes in Wheatland and Cheyenne. They were charged in federal court in Wyoming.
Eventually, both the Wyoming and New Mexico cases were consolidated before Federal Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal in Wyoming. Pursuant to a plea agreement with the United States Attorney’s Offices in New Mexico and Wyoming, Dickens, Dominguez, and Mitchell all entered pleas related to the carjacking and pharmacy robberies. Mitchell and Dickens received sentences of 35 years in prison. Dominguez will serve 28 years.
"This case is an outstanding representation of how close cooperation between federal and local law enforcement agencies across two states can put violent criminals and drug dealers behind bars," said Wyoming U.S. Attorney Mark Klaassen. "It is a perfect example of the kind of case that our President, our Attorney General, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Wyoming and New Mexico are targeting to reduce violent crime and address the opiate epidemic in our respective communities. Here, we combined the resources of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and prosecutors’ offices across two states to find the most effective way to investigate and prosecute these violent actors, and to bring justice to the victims of violent crime, which is the mandate of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhood initiative. I also want to highlight in particular the courage or the victims of these crimes in Wyoming. Without their assistance, these criminals may never have been accountable for their violent crimes here."
"Today’s sentencing of Antione Mitchell and the recent sentencings of Moses Dickens III and Christopher Dominguez illustrate the FBI’s commitment to work with its law enforcement partners to address violent crime in our community," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Dean Phillips. "This investigation was truly a collaborative multi-state effort between local and federal law enforcement. The community is safer with these individuals behind bars. And we are confident Mitchell, Dickens, and Dominguez’s sentencings sends a message to those involved in acts of violence that they will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law."
Multi-Agency Investigation Dismantles Major Drug Trafficking Organization in Southeastern New MexicoRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Ten people are facing federal drug trafficking charges in New Mexico following an 11-month investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lea County Drug Task Force.
Teams of federal, state, county, and local law enforcement officers conducted a major law enforcement operation on Thursday leading to the arrest of 5 defendants from New Mexico, Arizona, California, and Texas, and the execution of federal search warrants at residences in La Luz and Hobbs, New Mexico. Officers arrested another defendant on February 5, 2019, and two defendants on February 6, 2019. A grand jury previously indicted all of the defendants. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement authorities seized approximately 53 kilograms of methamphetamine, 354 grams of heroin, and 20 firearms.
“This investigation exemplifies the cooperation among law enforcement agencies necessary to combat large-scale drug traffickers in our state,” said U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson. “We are committed to dismantling these criminal organizations from the highest levels down.”
“The trafficking and abuse of methamphetamine destroys lives,” said Special Agent in Charge Kyle W. Williamson of DEA’s El Paso Division. “Through this investigation, DEA and our federal, state and local law enforcement partners have dismantled an organization responsible for trafficking significant quantities of methamphetamine, other dangerous drugs, and firearms in Hobbs and other communities. With these arrests and seizures, we are sending a strong, unified message that such criminal activity will not be tolerated, and that those who threaten the health and safety of our communities will be brought to justice.”
“All agencies involved worked well together and it is shown in the results of the investigation,” said Lea County Drug Task Force Commander Sean Roach. “This case will have a major impact on the methamphetamine trafficking in Lea County. This investigation took many man hours and effort but in the end it all pays off to see the impact made in our communities.”
“This operation is proof that when law enforcement agencies work together, anything can be accomplished,” said Lea County Sheriff Corey Helton. “The multiple agencies worked seamlessly to apprehend major players in methamphetamine trafficking in our state. I am proud of all the men and women who worked countless hours on this case.”
The defendants in the case are Luis Batista-Felix, 47, of Phoenix, Ariz., Edwin Cervantes, 27, of Los Angeles, Cal., Patricia Chihuahua, 37, of Hobbs, N.M., Maria Dominguez, 41, of Jal, N.M., Ricardo Hernandez, 44, of Hobbs, N.M., Diane Medrano, 43, of La Luz, N.M., Isaac Miranda, 22, of El Paso, Tex., Abraham Navarrette, 59, of Hobbs, N.M., Anita Rios, 45, of Lovington, N.M., and Beatrice Sandoval, 39, of Hobbs, N.M. All of these defendants have been arrested except for Hernandez and Rios.
All of these defendants face charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, including methamphetamine. All defendants except Dominguez face a penalty of from 10 years to life in prison if convicted of this offense. Dominguez, if convicted, faces a penalty of from 5 years to 40 years in prison. Medrano also is charged with engaging in a conspiracy to export firearms to Mexico. Medrano faces a penalty of up to 5 years in prison if convicted of this offense. Some defendants also face additional charges. Charges in indictments are only accusations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the DEA, Lea County Drug Task Force, Chaves County Metro Narcotics Task Force, Pecos Valley Drug Task Force, United States Marshals Service, U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, Bureau of Indian Affairs, United States Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service, New Mexico State Police, Lea County Sherriff’s Office, and Hobbs Police Department. Other law enforcement agencies also provided assistance, including the Jal Police Department, Eunice Police Department, Lovington Police Department, Carlsbad Police Department, and the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office.
These agencies conducted this investigation as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, a nationwide Department of Justice program that combines the resources and unique expertise of federal agencies, along with their local counterparts, in a coordinated effort to disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations. The U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
Multi-Agency Investigation Dismantles Major Drug Trafficking Organization in Southeastern New MexicoRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Ten people are facing federal drug trafficking charges in New Mexico following an 11-month investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lea County Drug Task Force.
Teams of federal, state, county, and local law enforcement officers conducted a major law enforcement operation on Thursday leading to the arrest of 5 defendants from New Mexico, Arizona, California, and Texas, and the execution of federal search warrants at residences in La Luz and Hobbs, New Mexico. Officers arrested another defendant on February 5, 2019, and two defendants on February 6, 2019. A grand jury previously indicted all of the defendants. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement authorities seized approximately 53 kilograms of methamphetamine, 354 grams of heroin, and 20 firearms.
“This investigation exemplifies the cooperation among law enforcement agencies necessary to combat large-scale drug traffickers in our state,” said U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson. “We are committed to dismantling these criminal organizations from the highest levels down.”
“The trafficking and abuse of methamphetamine destroys lives,” said Special Agent in Charge Kyle W. Williamson of DEA’s El Paso Division. “Through this investigation, DEA and our federal, state and local law enforcement partners have dismantled an organization responsible for trafficking significant quantities of methamphetamine, other dangerous drugs, and firearms in Hobbs and other communities. With these arrests and seizures, we are sending a strong, unified message that such criminal activity will not be tolerated, and that those who threaten the health and safety of our communities will be brought to justice.”
“All agencies involved worked well together and it is shown in the results of the investigation,” said Lea County Drug Task Force Commander Sean Roach. “This case will have a major impact on the methamphetamine trafficking in Lea County. This investigation took many man hours and effort but in the end it all pays off to see the impact made in our communities.”
“This operation is proof that when law enforcement agencies work together, anything can be accomplished,” said Lea County Sheriff Corey Helton. “The multiple agencies worked seamlessly to apprehend major players in methamphetamine trafficking in our state. I am proud of all the men and women who worked countless hours on this case.”
The defendants in the case are Luis Batista-Felix, 47, of Phoenix, Ariz., Edwin Cervantes, 27, of Los Angeles, Cal., Patricia Chihuahua, 37, of Hobbs, N.M., Maria Dominguez, 41, of Jal, N.M., Ricardo Hernandez, 44, of Hobbs, N.M., Diane Medrano, 43, of La Luz, N.M., Isaac Miranda, 22, of El Paso, Tex., Abraham Navarrette, 59, of Hobbs, N.M., Anita Rios, 45, of Lovington, N.M., and Beatrice Sandoval, 39, of Hobbs, N.M. All of these defendants have been arrested except for Hernandez and Rios.
All of these defendants face charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, including methamphetamine. All defendants except Dominguez face a penalty of from 10 years to life in prison if convicted of this offense. Dominguez, if convicted, faces a penalty of from 5 years to 40 years in prison. Medrano also is charged with engaging in a conspiracy to export firearms to Mexico. Medrano faces a penalty of up to 5 years in prison if convicted of this offense. Some defendants also face additional charges. Charges in indictments are only accusations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the DEA, Lea County Drug Task Force, Chaves County Metro Narcotics Task Force, Pecos Valley Drug Task Force, United States Marshals Service, U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, Bureau of Indian Affairs, United States Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service, New Mexico State Police, Lea County Sherriff’s Office, and Hobbs Police Department. Other law enforcement agencies also provided assistance, including the Jal Police Department, Eunice Police Department, Lovington Police Department, Carlsbad Police Department, and the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office.
These agencies conducted this investigation as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, a nationwide Department of Justice program that combines the resources and unique expertise of federal agencies, along with their local counterparts, in a coordinated effort to disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations. The U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
Woman from Albuquerque Charged with Setting Fire to FBI PropertyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE –Josephine Gervais, 39, of Albuquerque, N.M., appeared in federal court today on a charge of malicious damage by fire to federal property.
According to court documents, Gervais committed the offense on January 31, 2019, by setting fire to a sign and vegetation outside the FBI office in Albuquerque. Albuquerque Fire and Rescue responded to the scene and put out the fire. Gervais fled the scene. Agents arrested her at her home later the same day.
Gervais faces from 5 to 20 years in prison if convicted. Allegations in indictments are only accusations. A criminal defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Albuquerque office of the FBI investigated the case with assistance from Albuquerque Fire and Rescue. Assistant U.S. Attorney Howard R. Thomas is prosecuting the case.
Man from Tohatchi, N.m. Pleads Guilty to KidnappingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Ryan Thompson, 32, of Tohatchi, N.M., pleaded guilty today in federal court to charges of kidnapping and aggravated sexual abuse in Indian Country.
According to court documents, Thompson, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, kidnapped a woman and child from a gas station in Gallup on November 15, 2017. He drove them to another location and forced the woman to drink alcohol. When Thompson briefly left the area, the woman tried to escape by driving way. Thompson stopped her, pulled her out of the car, and beat her.
Thompson sexually abused the woman in front of the child. He also threatened to kill the woman and child. Thompson held them in his car overnight before taking them to a home where they stayed another night. On November 17, 2017, Thompson stole property from another residence. At that time, the woman drove away in her car with the child. She encountered police a short time later. Emergency responders took her to the hospital for treatment of her injuries, including a broken nose.
At sentencing, Thompson faces from 15 to 20 years in prison. The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Spindle is prosecuting the case.
Five Men, Two Businesses Charged with Illegally ImportingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Federal law enforcement officials have announced charges against five men and two businesses for conspiracy, smuggling goods into the United States, and misrepresentation of Indian produced goods and products. The charges, which are contained in a five-count indictment, arise from a multi-year scheme to import Native American-style jewelry, arts, and crafts into the United States from the Philippines and sell these goods to customers based on false representations that the merchandise was made by Native Americans.
According to the indictment, which was returned on December 19, 2018, Sterling Islands Inc., located in Albuquerque, N.M., imported Native American-style goods from a factory in the Philippines. These goods were not indelibly marked with the country of origin as required by customs law. The indictment alleges that Jawad Khalaf, 70, of Albuquerque, N.M., is the owner and president of Sterling Islands Inc. Nader Khalaf, 41, of Albuquerque, N.M., is a manager.
As alleged, Al-Zuni Global Jewelers, Inc., a wholesale business in Gallup, N.M., received these illegally imported goods and distributed them to customers. Nashat Khalaf, 71, of Gallup, N.M., is the owner and president of Al-Zuni Global Jewelers, Inc. Zaher Mostafa, 51, of Gallup, N.M., is a manager.
The indictment further charges that on or about August 3, 2012, Nader Khalaf sent an email message to the Philippines ordering Native American-style canteens. This email included a note from Mostafa requesting production. On or about November 24, 2014, Mostafa sold canteens to a customer that he represented as made by Navajo when the canteens were actually made in the Philippines.
As alleged, on or about July 23, 2013, Nader Khalaf processed an order from Taha Shawar, 47, of Breckenridge, Colo., for jewelry stamped “E.Y.” On August 5, 2014, Shawar sold a necklace stamped “E.Y.” to customers, claiming the necklace was made by an actual Navajo artist with those initials.
“Native Americans make tremendous contributions to the cultural and artistic heritage of our nation,” said New Mexico U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson. “This case demonstrates the Justice Department’s commitment to preserving and protecting the rich culture and heritage of New Mexico’s Pueblos and Tribes while promoting confidence in New Mexico’s native art market.”
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is committed to safeguarding the rich culture, art and heritage of Native Americans," said Edward Grace, Acting Assistant Director of the Office of Law Enforcement for the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service. "We will continue to hold to account those who would attempt to sell fraudulent Indian art and craftwork in order to further their business dealings. We thank the U.S. Attorney's Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, and Indian Arts and Crafts Board for their assistance with this case."
“People from all over the country come to New Mexico to buy Native American jewelry, and they expect the real thing,” said Special Agent in Charge James C. Langenberg of the FBI Albuquerque Division. “When it's not, not only are they cheated, but so are the Native American artists who work hard to preserve their heritage. The FBI and our partners are committed to vigorously investigating and prosecuting the counterfeiters who would threaten one of our country's most precious cultural resources.”
“HSI special agents will continue to use their full authority to pursue the criminal organizations responsible for exploiting our tribal lands and cultural patrimony,” said Jack P. Staton, Special Agent in Charge of HSI El Paso. “HSI’s unique cross-border authority is vital to the success of these investigations and we will continue to work with our federal, tribal, state, and local law enforcement partners to protect the Native American heritage of the pueblos and tribes in New Mexico.”
“The Indian Arts and Crafts Board is charged by statute to protect federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native artists and their creative work through the Indian Arts and Crafts Act, thereby promoting tribal economies and preserving American Indian and Alaska Native cultural traditions,” said Indian Arts and Crafts Board Director Meridith Stanton. “The Indian Arts and Crafts Board commends the Office of the U.S. Attorney in the District of New Mexico and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement for their outstanding work on the Al Zuni Indian Arts and Crafts Act investigation to protect the integrity and vitality of authentic Indian art. This is particularly important in New Mexico, which relies on the creation and sale of authentic Indian art and craftwork as an important tourist draw and economic engine.”
The defendants face a maximum of 20 years in prison if convicted of the conspiracy and smuggling offenses. They face up to 5 years in prison if convicted of misrepresentation of Indian produced goods and products.
Allegations in indictments are only accusations. Criminal defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation was led by the Office of Law Enforcement for the Southwest Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with assistance from the Albuquerque Division of the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean J. Sullivan, Kristopher N. Houghton, and Brandon L. Fyffe are prosecuted the case.
Albuquerque Woman Sentenced to 36 Months in Prison for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Cordelia Louisa Espinosa, 52, of Albuquerque, N.M., was sentenced in federal court today to 36 months in prison for conspiracy and distribution of at least 50 grams of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Espinosa participated in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy from the beginning of April 2015 to February 9, 2017. As part of the conspiracy, she participated in a drug transaction in Albuquerque on December 7, 2016. Espinosa gave a gift bag containing approximately 553 grams of methamphetamine to another drug trafficker, who then gave the bag to an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a drug purchaser. On February 9, 2017, Espinosa participated further in the conspiracy by coordinating a drug transaction by telephone involving more than 14 kilograms of methamphetamine.
The indictment against Espinosa also charged three co-defendants. On January 3, 2019, Hector Hugo Magana, 35, of Redwood City, California, received a sentence of 70 months in prison after pleading guilty to distribution of 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
On July 3, 2018, Efrain Espinoza-Pena, 45, of Mexico, pleaded guilty to conspiracy, distribution of at least 50 grams of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute at least 50 grams of methamphetamine. On September 13, 2018, Edgar Madrid-Rascon, 33, of Mexico, pleaded guilty to distribution of 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Both of these co-defendants are awaiting sentencing.
The Albuquerque office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the New Mexico State Police, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul J. Mysliwiec and David Cowen prosecuted the case.
Albuquerque Woman Sentenced to 24 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Jackie Herron, 25, of Albuquerque, N.M., was sentenced in federal court today to 24 months in prison on three counts of assault on a federal employee involving the use of a deadly weapon.
According to court documents, Herron was involved in a confrontation with postal service workers in a gated, restricted parking lot for employees only. When postal workers told her to leave, she revved the engine of her automobile and threatened to run them over. When one of the postal workers went behind her car to take photographs of Herron’s license plate, she pulled out a gun and pointed it at them in a threatening manner.
The Albuquerque office of the United States Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul J. Mysliwiec and Eva Mae Fontanez prosecuted the case.
Alamo, N.m. Man Charged with Sexual Abuse in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Thomas Abeyta, 35, of Alamo, N.M., made an initial appearance in federal court today on charges of aggravated sexual abuse in Indian Country.
According to a criminal complaint, Abeyta physically assaulted the victim at a residence on January 25, 2019. Abeyta injected the victim with a substance and sexually abused her over the course of several hours. The victim later went to the hospital for treatment of her injuries. Hospital staff reported the matter to law enforcement. Investigators have not confirmed the nature of the substance Abeyta injected into the victim.
If convicted, Abeyta faces up to life in prison. Charges in criminal complaints are merely accusations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.
The Albuquerque office of the FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Frederick Mendenhall is prosecuting the case.
Kirby Cleveland, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pleads guilty to murdering tribal police officer in 2017Read the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Kirby Cleveland, 35, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation from Prewitt, New Mexico, pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday to second-degree murder for killing Houston James Largo, a tribal police officer for the Navajo Nation.
Cleveland pleaded guilty to an information charging him with killing Largo, with malice aforethought, in McKinley County, New Mexico, on March 11, 2017. According to public court records, Cleveland became drunk and angry while at home with his common law wife and children. His common law wife called the police and Officer Largo responded to the home. Cleveland went outside carrying a rifle and shot Largo in the head, killing him. Cleveland then went back inside the house where he admitted shooting an officer before fleeing the scene. State, local, and tribal law enforcement conducted a large-scale search for Cleveland and located him the next morning hiding under a rock about 1.5 miles away.
Cleveland is currently in custody awaiting sentencing currently scheduled for March 20, 2020. He faces up to life in prison for second-degree murder.
Cleveland also pleaded guilty to violating the terms of his supervised release from a previous assault conviction involving an attack on a woman with a baseball bat. Cleveland failed to abstain from alcohol and complete a residential reentry program as ordered by the court. He faces up to two years in prison for this offense
The Gallup and Albuquerque offices of the FBI and the Crownpoint, Shiprock and Chinle offices of the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety investigated this case with assistance from the New Mexico State Police, McKinley County Sheriff’s Office, Albuquerque Police Department and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph M. Spindle and Jeremy Peña are prosecuting the case.
Department of Justice, Bureau of Indian Affairs Repatriate Items of Cultural Patrimony to Acoma PuebloRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice announced today the repatriation of an Acoma Shield and several other important items of historical and cultural significance to the Pueblo of Acoma and its members.
U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson for the District of New Mexico participated in a repatriation ceremony earlier today with Special Agent Franklin Chavez of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Governor Kurt Riley of the Pueblo of Acoma. Other federal and tribal officials and community members also attended the event at the Sky City Cultural Center and Haak’u Museum.
“The Department of Justice is committed to enforcing federal laws that preserve the historical, cultural, and religious heritage of Native Americans,” said Acting Attorney General Matthew G. Whitaker. “This commitment includes ensuring sacred objects like the Acoma Shield are returned to their rightful owners. Today’s announcement further demonstrates the Justice Department’s dedication to the safety, prosperity, and wellbeing of American Indian and Alaska Native people.”
BIA recovered the shield that was repatriated today after learning that it was offered for sale online by an art gallery in Montana. Acoma Pueblo war shields are sacred pieces of cultural patrimony that date back hundreds of years and are at the heart of Acoma Pueblo’s heritage and identity. Items such as the war shield are used for ceremonial purposes and are closely kept among traditional leaders of the Pueblo community.
The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) is a federal law intended to return unlawfully obtained human remains and cultural objects to their Native American homelands. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the BIA-Office of Justice Services Cultural Resources Division are dedicated to stemming the loss and trafficking of cultural patrimony by investigating and enforcing the NAGPRA.
“Today, we celebrate the return of several items of cultural patrimony to their true owners: the Pueblo of Acoma,” said U.S. Attorney Anderson. “Our ability to return these items is the result of years of hard work. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, through Special Agent Frank Chavez’s dedicated efforts, discovered these sacred and historic items, and we, at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, are proud to partner with BIA in facilitating their return. Sadly, we all too often find sacred, religious, and culturally significant items being sold at art markets, flea markets and in galleries. In keeping with federal law, we will continue to do everything in our power to locate such objects and deliver them to their rightful homes.”
“I thank the Pueblo of Acoma for their due diligence in locating and reporting these precious objects to BIA and DOJ. I want to acknowledge the voluntarily actions of those individuals who returned the items in their possession once they learned of the cultural significance to the Pueblo of Acoma tribal community,” said Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Tara Sweeney. “The proactive work demonstrated by Special Agent Chavez in working closely with all involved makes us proud.”
"We have raised our voices internationally, in the halls of Congress and the legislative chambers here in New Mexico, drawing attention to the longstanding epidemic of theft, looting, and trafficking of our sacred items – all in violation of tribal and federal law. During the 2015 attempted sale of an Acoma Shield by the Eve Auction house in Paris, France, the Pueblo also identified a similar shield and other sensitive cultural items being sold here in the United States. The amount of resources and energy, the Pueblo of Acoma has expended in this matter is a reflection of the seriousness with which we treat the protection of items uniquely distinct to our culture. That is why when U.S. Attorney Anderson informed us that these items of cultural patrimony, including another Acoma Shield, were coming home -- our hearts were overjoyed," said Governor Kurt Riley.
Mescalero Apache Man Sentenced for Federal Assault ConvictionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Patrick Moquino, 39, an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Nation who resides in Mescalero, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to 21 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release for his conviction on an assault charge.
On June 13, 2018, Moquino pled guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. He admitted assaulting an Apache man on March 14, 2017, on the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation in Otero County, N.M., by punching and kicking the victim while the victim was lying on the ground. Moquino further admitted that the victim suffered a fractured nose and head trauma as the result of the assault.
This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the FBI and the Mescalero Agency of the BIA’s Office of Justice Services and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office.
Albuquerque Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Heroin Trafficking and Firearms ConvictionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Lawrence Marquez, 39, of Albuquerque, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court to 88 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for heroin trafficking and firearms charges.
Marquez pled guilty on Aug. 28, 2018 to one count of distribution of heroin and one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. He admitted that he possessed a firearm when he sold heroin on Feb. 23, 2017, in Albuquerque.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque offices of the DEA and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elaine Y. Ramirez prosecuted the case as part of the Department of Justice’s commitment, in partnership with other law enforcement agencies, to combat the illegal manufacturing and distribution of methamphetamine, heroin and prescription opioids and to establish new programs to provide services to victims of the opioid crisis.
Albuquerque Man Pleads Guilty to Interstate Travel to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct with a Minor, Child Exploitation and Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Bentley Streett, 42, of Albuquerque, N.M., pled guilty this morning in federal court to interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, child exploitation and child pornography charges.
According to court documents, Streett was arrested in Oct. 2014, by the FBI and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) on federal child exploitation charges. The investigation into Streett began in Oct. 2013, after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children forwarded a tip to the New Mexico Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
During today’s proceedings, Streett pled guilty to interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, two counts of production of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct also known as child pornography, three counts of attempted production of child pornography, distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography.
In entering the guilty plea, Streett admitted that between July 31, 2013, and Aug. 4, 2013, he traveled from Albuquerque to Sycamore, Ill., for the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct with a 14-year- old victim. Streett also admitted that from May 2013 through at least Feb. 2014, he attempted to persuade minors to produce child pornography and send the images to him and sent one of those minors different images of child pornography. Streett admitted that he saved multiple images of child pornography on his laptop.
At sentencing, Streett faces a statutory mandatory minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in federal prison. Streett also will be required to register as a sex offender.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI, the BCSO, the New Mexico ICAC Task Force, the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office and the Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory (RCFL). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Mease as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
The case also was brought as a part of the New Mexico ICAC Task Force’s mission, which is to locate, track, and capture Internet child sexual predators and Internet child pornographers in New Mexico. There are 86 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies associated with the New Mexico ICAC Task Force, which is funded by a grant administered by the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office. Anyone with information relating to suspected child predators and suspected child abuse is encouraged to contact federal or local law enforcement.
Farmington Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Bank Robbery ChargeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Justin Jr Watchman, 26, of Farmington, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to bank robbery. Watchman entered the guilty plea without the benefit of a plea agreement.
The FBI arrested Watchman in Aug. 2018, for robbing the First Convenience Bank located inside the Walmart at 4600 East Main Street in Farmington on Aug. 17, 2018, by handing the bank teller a note demanding money. Farmington Police Department (FPD) officers located Watchman later that same day. At the time of arrest, he possessed a video game system still in the manufacturer’s box and a one-way bus ticket.
Watchman will remain in custody pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled. At sentencing, Watchman faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and the FPD. Assistant U.S. Attorney Howard Thomas is prosecuting the case.
Albuquerque Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Bank Robbery ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Ryan Schorr, 28, of Albuquerque, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court to robbing two branches of US Bank in New Mexico in Sept. and Oct. 2017.
The FBI arrested Schorr in April 2018, for robbing the US Bank located at 2015 Eubank Blvd on Sept. 21, 2017, and robbing the US Bank located at 3801 Isleta Blvd on Oct. 3, 2017. According to court documents, Schorr robbed both banks by giving a handwritten note to the bank teller stating that he had a gun and was demanding money. FBI agents located Schorr with the help of witnesses who were able to identify Schorr in security camera footage taken at both bank robberies.
Schorr will remain detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled. At sentencing, Schorr faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niki Tapia-Brito is prosecuting the case.
Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Heroin in New MexicoRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Irving Daniel Ramirez, 25, of El Paso, Texas, pled guilty yesterday in Las Cruces, N.M., federal court to trafficking nearly ten pounds of heroin in New Mexico.
New Mexico State Police (NMSP) officers and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents arrested Ramirez in Aug. 2018, after locating approximately 4.4 kilograms (9.7 pounds) of heroin concealed in Ramirez’s vehicle following a traffic stop on Highway 26 in Dona Ana County, N.M.
During yesterday’s proceedings, Ramirez pled guilty to a felony information charging him with possession of heroin with intent to distribute. He admitted that on Aug. 25, 2018, law enforcement agents located seven bundles of heroin weighing a total of approximately 4.4 kilograms, hidden in his vehicle. Ramirez also admitted that he was hired to transport the drugs, and intended to deliver the heroin to another individual in Albuquerque.
At sentencing, Ramirez faces a statutory mandatory minimum penalty of ten years and a maximum of life in federal prison. Ramirez remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by HSI and the NMSP and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah M. Davenport as part of the Department of Justice’s commitment, in partnership with other law enforcement agencies, to combat the illegal manufacturing and distribution of methamphetamine, heroin and prescription opioids and to establish new programs to provide services to victims of the opioid crisis.
Navajo Man from Gallup Sentenced to Prison for Assault with Dangerous WeaponRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Junior Cornfield, 34, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Gallup, N.M., was sentenced today in Albuquerque, N.M., federal court to 63 months in prison for assaulting a woman with a hammer intending to cause bodily injury. Cornfield will be on supervised release for three years after completing his prison sentence.
On June 14, 2018, Cornfield pled guilty to a felony information charging him with assault with a dangerous weapon. He admitted that on Nov. 25, 2017, he struck the victim with a hammer, causing her to become unconscious. Cornfield acknowledged that the victim suffered bruises and needed medical attention because of the assault.
This case was investigated by the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elisa Dimas pursuant to the Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (Tribal SAUSA) Pilot Project in the District of New Mexico which is sponsored by the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women under a grant administered by the Pueblo of Laguna. The Tribal SAUSA Pilot Project seeks to train tribal prosecutors in federal law, procedure and investigative techniques to increase the likelihood that every viable violent offense against Native women is prosecuted in either federal court or tribal court, or both. The Tribal SAUSA Pilot Project was driven largely by input gathered from annual tribal consultations on violence against women, and is another step in the Justice Department's on-going efforts to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in tribal communities.
Mescalero Apache Man Sentenced for Assaulting a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Gerald Castillo, Jr., 30, an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Nation who resides in Ruidoso, N.M., was sentenced yesterday afternoon in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to three years probation and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine for assaulting a federal officer.
On Aug. 3, 2018, Castillo pled guilty to a misdemeanor information charging him with assaulting, resisting or impeding a federal officer. Castillo admitted that on Feb. 24, 2018, he assaulted a Bureau of Indian Affairs officer by hitting the officer’s chest. According to court documents, Castillo assaulted the officer while attempting to flee from law enforcement following a bar fight on the Mescalero Apache Reservation in Otero County, N.M.
This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the FBI and the Mescalero Agency of the BIA’s Office of Justice Services, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office.
Arizona Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Methamphetamine Trafficking Charge in New MexicoRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Toni Baldonado, 25, of Tucson, Ariz., pled guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to methamphetamine trafficking. Baldonado entered her guilty plea without the benefit of a plea agreement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration arrested Baldonado after seizing approximately 1.55 kilograms (3.42 pounds) of methamphetamine from her luggage during an interdiction investigation in Albuquerque on June 17, 2016. Baldonado was indicted on July 12, 2016, and charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
According to court documents, Baldonado admitted that she was transporting the methamphetamine from Phoenix, Ariz., to Denver, Colo., in exchange for payment. At sentencing, Baldonado faces a statutory mandatory minimum penalty of ten years and a maximum of life in federal prison. A sentencing has yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the DEA and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul H. Spiers.
Previously Convicted Felon from Gallup Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Ricardo A. Teran, 39, of Gallup, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court in Santa Fe, N.M., to 34 months in prison for being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Teran will be on supervised release for three years.
Teran pled guilty to this offense on Aug. 30, 2017. According to court documents, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) executed a search warrant at Teran’s home on Feb. 5, 2016. Law enforcement agents seized firearms, ammunition, bullet-resistant vests, drugs, and drug paraphernalia from the residence. This included a loaded pistol, revolver, shot gun, methamphetamine pipe, and syringes in a two-year-old child’s bedroom.
Teran was prohibited from possessing firearms, ammunition, or body armor because of his prior felony convictions for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, receiving a stolen firearm, and aggravated assault against a household member.
This case was investigated by HSI and the MCSO with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel A. Hurtado prosecuted the case under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Grant County, N.M., Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearm and Ammunition as a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Rudy Portillo Sepulveda, Jr., 28, of Grant County, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to violating the federal firearms laws by being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
During today’s proceedings, Sepulveda pled guilty to an indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Sepulveda admitted that on March 30, 2018, a New Mexico State Police (NMSP) officer pulled him over because of an outstanding warrant for his arrest, and located a firearm and multiple rounds of ammunition in his vehicle. In entering his guilty plea, Sepulveda acknowledged that he was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because of his prior felony convictions for aggravated assault on a peace officer with a deadly weapon, aggravated fleeing from a law enforcement officer, possession of a controlled substance, and criminal damage to property.
Sepulveda faces a statutory maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison. He remains in custody awaiting sentencing at a later date.
This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the FBI, the NMSP, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office and the Silver City Police Department with assistance from the 6th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa A. Ong is prosecuting the case.
Tesuque Pueblo Man Sentenced for Child Abuse ConvictionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Agoyo Vigil, 42, an enrolled member and resident of Tesuque Pueblo, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to two years of probation for his conviction on a felony child abuse charge.
On Aug. 31, 2018, Vigil pled guilty to an information charging him with child abuse. In entering the guilty plea, Vigil admitted that on Dec. 31, 2015, on the San Ildefonso Pueblo, in Santa Fe County, N.M., he became involved in a family argument after consuming beer. During this argument, Vigil grabbed and pushed the 13-year-old victim up against a wall with his hand on the victim’s throat.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI, BIA’s Office of Justice Services and the Tesuque Pueblo Tribal Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall.
Drug Addict from Grant County, N.M., Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Richard Dinwiddie, 58, of Cliff, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M, to 15 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for being a drug addict in possession of firearms and ammunition.
Dinwiddie pled guilty on June 28, 2018. He admitted that federal and local law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at his residence on Feb. 5, 2018, and found approximately six firearms, approximately 1,000 rounds of ammunition, 4.5 grams of methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia. Dinwiddie also admitted that he had been a methamphetamine user for approximately two years.
This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the FBI, the New Mexico State Police, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, the Catron County Sheriff’s Office, and the Silver City Police Department with assistance from the 6th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa A. Ong of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Armed Career Criminal from Rio Rancho Sentenced to 15 Years for Violating Federal Firearms LawsRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson, Special Agent in Charge James C. Langenberg of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division, and Chief Stewart Steele of the Rio Rancho Police Department (RRPD) announced today that Nathan Corley, 38, of Rio Rancho, N.M., was sentenced to 15 years in prison for violating the federal firearms laws. Corley will be on supervised release for three years after completing his prison sentence.
Corley pled guilty on April 19, 2018, to an indictment charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. According to court documents, on Sept. 27, 2016, Corley approached a home in Rio Rancho with a rifle in hand. He used the barrel of the rifle to knock on the front door and spoke to the homeowner with the rifle barrel sticking out of his sweatshirt. Corley then left the home in his car, striking a mailbox while speeding away. He drove to a store nearby where he went inside and shoplifted almost $2000 in merchandise. RRPD arrested Corley as he was leaving the store and walking back to his car. Corley was carrying a knife in his pocket when police arrested him. Officers also found an AK-47 rifle, ammunition, and open bottles of alcohol in Corley’s vehicle.
At today’s sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Judith C. Herrera found that Corley is an armed career criminal based on his criminal history, including prior convictions for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
This case was investigated by the FBI and RRPD. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel A. Hurtado prosecuted the case under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Navajo Man from Shiprock Facing Aggravated Sexual Abuse ChargeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Wilfred Garcia, 53, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Shiprock, N.M., appeared in federal court today in Albuquerque, N.M., on a criminal complaint charging him with aggravated sexual abuse. Trial has yet to be scheduled.
Agents from the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety arrested Garcia in Shiprock on November 22, 2018. According to the criminal complaint, Garcia pulled up to the victim while driving his truck. He got out, put his arms around the victim, and held a hard object to her back while telling her, “Don’t move.” Garcia then forcibly placed the victim in his truck and drove to a dirt road where he sexually assaulted her. The victim eventually got away from Garcia, flagged down a motorist for help, and reported the incident to police, who arrested Garcia later that day.
The maximum penalty upon conviction for aggravated sexual abuse charge is life in federal prison. Charges in criminal complaints are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the Farmington office of the FBI and the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Assistant U.S. Attorney Frederick T. Mendenhall, III, is prosecuting the case as part of the Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (Tribal SAUSA) Pilot Project in the District of New Mexico which is sponsored by the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women under a grant administered by the Pueblo of Laguna. The Tribal SAUSA Pilot Project seeks to train tribal prosecutors in federal law, procedure and investigative techniques to increase the likelihood that every viable violent offense against Native women is prosecuted in either federal court or tribal court, or both. The Tribal SAUSA Pilot Project was largely driven by input gathered from annual tribal consultations on violence against women, and is another step in the Justice Department's ongoing efforts to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in tribal communities.
Albuquerque Man Sentenced for Mail TheftRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Eric R. Powell, 33, of Albuquerque, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court in Santa Fe, N.M., to five years of probation including eight months of home confinement for mail theft.
Powell pled guilty on May 3, 2017, to a charge of theft or receipt of stolen mail. According to court documents, he possessed stolen mail from more than 1,300 victims and caused his victim’s more than $13,000 in financial losses. In pleading guilty, Powell admitted that he stole mail from numerous mailboxes in Albuquerque using a counterfeit U.S. Postal Service Arrow Key. Powell also admitted that he paid for a hotel room using a credit card he found in stolen mail. He also admitted buying various items with credit and debit cards, checks, and gift cards he obtained from stolen mail.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Rio Rancho Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Fyffe prosecuted the case.
Navajo Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for First-Degree Murder and Witness TamperingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Brian Tony, 47, of Gallup, N.M., was sentenced to life imprisonment today in federal court in Santa Fe, N.M., following his previous conviction at trial for first-degree murder and witness tampering, announced U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson, Special Agent in Charge James C. Langenberg of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division, and Director Jesse Delmar of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety (NNDPS).
A jury found Tony, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, guilty of these offenses on September 30, 2017. The evidence at trial established that on May 8, 2016, Tony drove his girlfriend’s Jeep to a home in Gallup with his brother and his girlfriend. Tony picked up the victim and the victim’s friend from this location. Tony also retrieved a hammer and placed it in his Jeep.
According to testimony from the victim’s friend, Tony drove them to a place called “Superman Canyon,” where Tony ordered the victim out of the Jeep and led him to an area out of sight from the vehicle. The victim’s friend heard the victim yell, but stayed in the Jeep because Tony’s brother threatened him.
A short time later, the victim called “911” and told the operator he was in a ditch and bleeding. The victim reported that Tony had hit him in the head with a hammer. The victim told the operator, “Hurry, here he comes now! Hurry!”
The next day, the victim’s body was found in a ravine by Rock Flats Road near Churchrock, N.M. There was a hammer and large rock with bloodstains nearby. The victim was wearing an empty knife sheath on his belt. The victim had more than 23 stab wounds and blunt force trauma to his head and neck.
The evidence at trial also established that Tony committed witness tampering while awaiting trial at the Santa Fe County Detention Center. Tony made more than 1,000 calls to friends and relatives, imploring them to convince the victim’s friend to leave town and to prevent the friend from testifying. The jury also heard Tony try to persuade his girlfriend not to cooperate with law enforcement. Tony testified during the trial and claimed that he killed the victim in self-defense.
“The life sentence imposed today cannot bring the victim back to his family and friends, but I hope it gives them a measure of comfort and closure,” said U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson. “I commend the FBI and the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety for their extraordinary and tireless efforts during the investigation of Mr. Tony’s heinous crimes.”
“The FBI worked closely with the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety to make sure justice was done in this case,” said Special Agent in Charge James C. Langenberg of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division. “Although the defendant committed a gruesome, premeditated murder for which he will spend the rest of his life in prison, our focus should be on the victim and his loved ones. We hope this punishment helps the family and friends of the deceased find some closure, while sending a clear message that violent crime on the Navajo Nation will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“It is very unfortunate that a life was taken under the circumstances of a crime so heinous and violent,” said Director Jesse Delmar of the NNDPS. “Our prayers are with the victim and his family. A special thanks to the U.S. Attorney’s office, the FBI and the Navajo Nation Law Enforcement for working this case and bringing justice to the victim and his family.”
The Albuquerque and Gallup offices of the FBI investigated this case along with the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety.
Assistant U.S. Attorney’s Joseph M. Spindle and Nicholas J. Marshall prosecuted the case as part of a federal anti-violence initiative that targets violent, repeat offenders for federal prosecution. Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies work with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target for federal prosecution violent or repeat offenders with the goal of making communities in New Mexico safer places for people to live and work.
Former Las Cruces U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer Sentenced to 12 Months in Prison for Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Christopher Holbrook, 32, a former U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer, was sentenced today in federal court in Las Cruces, New Mexico, to 12 months and a day in prison followed by two years of supervised release for obstruction of justice, announced Eric Dreiband, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson of the District of New Mexico, and Hector Mancha, CBP Director of Field Operation, El Paso.
According to the defendant’s guilty plea, Holbrook falsified an official report regarding his use of force against an individual, referred to as R.A.M., on March 23, 2015. Holbrook’s report falsely claimed that he used the minimum amount of force necessary to control R.A.M.; in pleading guilty, Holbrook admitted that he intentionally swept R.A.M.’s legs out from under him and caused R.A.M.’s head to hit the floor. At the time of the incident, Holbrook was working as a CBP officer in Las Cruces.
“The defendant’s intentional falsification of a report to cover up his misconduct undermines the oath that all federal law enforcement take to uphold and fairly enforce the law,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband. “The Justice Department will continue to prosecute such violations vigorously.”
“We depend on law enforcement officers to carry out their duties in a way that respects their positions of authority, the law and the communities they serve,” said U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson. “When those who are sworn to uphold the law and protect others instead abuse their power and position, they undermine the public’s confidence in the justice system and our government institutions. We cannot and will not tolerate such abuses.”
“The vast majority of CBP officers embody our core values, perform their duties with integrity, treat travelers with dignity and respect, and are dedicated to our mission of securing our borders while facilitating legitimate trade and travel,” said Hector Mancha, CBP Director of Field Operation, El Paso. “U.S. Customs and Border Protection stresses professionalism, honor and integrity in every aspect of our mission and does not tolerate actions by any employee that would tarnish the reputation of our agency.”
This case was investigated by CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa Ong of District of New Mexico U.S. Attorney’s Law Cruces Branch Office and Trial Attorney Julia Gegenheimer of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice are prosecuting the case.
Former Las Cruces U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer Sentenced to 12 Months in Prison for Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
Christopher Holbrook, 32, a former U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer, was sentenced today in federal court in Las Cruces, New Mexico, to 12 months and a day in prison followed by two years of supervised release for obstruction of justice, announced Eric Dreiband, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson of the District of New Mexico, and Hector Mancha, CBP Director of Field Operation, El Paso.
According to the defendant’s guilty plea, Holbrook falsified an official report regarding his use of force against an individual, referred to as R.A.M., on March 23, 2015. Holbrook’s report falsely claimed that he used the minimum amount of force necessary to control R.A.M.; in pleading guilty, Holbrook admitted that he intentionally swept R.A.M.’s legs out from under him and caused R.A.M.’s head to hit the floor. At the time of the incident, Holbrook was working as a CBP officer in Las Cruces.
“The defendant’s intentional falsification of a report to cover up his misconduct undermines the oath that all federal law enforcement take to uphold and fairly enforce the law,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband. “The Justice Department will continue to prosecute such violations vigorously.”
“We depend on law enforcement officers to carry out their duties in a way that respects their positions of authority, the law and the communities they serve,” said U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson. “When those who are sworn to uphold the law and protect others instead abuse their power and position, they undermine the public’s confidence in the justice system and our government institutions. We cannot and will not tolerate such abuses.”
“The vast majority of CBP officers embody our core values, perform their duties with integrity, treat travelers with dignity and respect, and are dedicated to our mission of securing our borders while facilitating legitimate trade and travel,” said Hector Mancha, CBP Director of Field Operation, El Paso. “U.S. Customs and Border Protection stresses professionalism, honor and integrity in every aspect of our mission and does not tolerate actions by any employee that would tarnish the reputation of our agency.”
This case was investigated by CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa Ong of District of New Mexico U.S. Attorney’s Law Cruces Branch Office and Trial Attorney Julia Gegenheimer of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice are prosecuting the case.
Felon from Albuquerque Sentenced to Prison for Violating Federal Firearms LawsRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Adam Sadlowski, 40, of Albuquerque, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court to 51 months in prison for being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Sadlowski will be on supervised release for three years after completing his prison sentence.
Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) deputies arrested Sadlowski at his home on Feb. 22, 2016. According to court records, they found 13 firearms at Sadlowski’s residence, including two previously reported stolen. Deputies also found assorted ammunition. Sadlowski was prohibited from possession any firearms or ammunition at this time because of his previous criminal convictions for trafficking a controlled substance, receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle, and tampering with evidence.
Sadlowski pled guilty to the indictment on April 5, 2018. He admitted possessing two handguns and ammunition despite being a convicted felon.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with the BCSO. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel A. Hurtado prosecuted the case under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
California Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Methamphetamine Trafficking Charge in New MexicoRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Gwendolyn Alcazar, 36, of Pasadena, Calif., pled guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to a methamphetamine trafficking charge.
The Drug Enforcement Administration arrested Alcazar on Feb. 8, 2018, on an indictment charging her with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. According to the indictment, Alcazar committed the crime on July 11, 2017, in Bernalillo County, N.M.
During today’s proceedings, Alcazar admitted that she received a one-way train ticket from Los Angeles to Atlanta. She boarded the train with approximately 900.4 grams (1.99 pounds) of methamphetamine concealed in her luggage. Alcazar intended to transport the methamphetamine to Atlanta and expected to receive payment at the end of her trip. However, law enforcement officers confronted her in Albuquerque. Alcazar gave them a false name and tried to abandon her luggage and flee before the officers arrested her.
At sentencing, Alcazar faces a mandatory minimum penalty of ten years and a maximum of life in federal prison. She remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the DEA and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Niki Tapia-Brito and Eva Fontanez.
Albuquerque Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Possessing Firearm while Trafficking FentanylRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Jeremy Brown, 27, of Albuquerque, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court to 60 months in prison for possessing a firearm while trafficking fentanyl. Brown will be on supervised release for three years after completing his prison sentence.
On July 16, 2018, Brown pled guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. In entering his guilty plea, Brown admitted that on May 1, 2017, he arranged a meeting to sell fentanyl pills to a customer. DEA agents arrested Brown during this meeting and searched his truck, where they found a canister of fentanyl pills and a .45 caliber pistol in the center console. Brown admitted that he intended to sell these pills and possessed the pistol to protect himself while selling drugs.
Brown’s co-defendant, Crystal Campos, 34, also of Albuquerque, pled guilty on Oct. 4, 2018, to charges of conspiracy and distribution of a controlled substance.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the DEA and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter J. Eicker as part of the Department of Justice’s commitment, in partnership with other law enforcement agencies, to combat the illegal manufacturing and distribution of methamphetamine, heroin and prescription opioids and to establish new programs to provide services to victims of the opioid crisis.
Previously Convicted Sex Offender from Albuquerque Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Christopher Raymond Lopez, 53, of Albuquerque, N.M., a previously convicted sex offender, pleaded guilty this morning in federal court to an indictment charging him with possessing child pornography. Lopez entered the guilty plea without the benefit of a plea agreement.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Albuquerque Police Department arrested Lopez on Feb. 22, 2018, on the three-count indictment, which was filed on Feb. 14, 2018, and charged him with possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct on a hard drive, a computer and a thumb drive. According to the indictment, Lopez committed the crimes on June 29, 2016, in Bernalillo County, N.M.
Lopez remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled. At sentencing, Lopez faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Lopez will also be required to register as a sex offender because of his felony convictions.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Albuquerque Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shaheen P. Torgoley as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
The case also was brought as a part of the New Mexico ICAC Task Force’s mission, which is to locate, track, and capture Internet child sexual predators and Internet child pornographers in New Mexico. There are 86 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies associated with the New Mexico ICAC Task Force, which is funded by a grant administered by the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General. Anyone with information relating to suspected child predators and suspected child abuse is encouraged to contact federal or local law enforcement.
Federal Jury Convicts Navajo Man on Federal Child Sexual Abuse ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A federal jury sitting in Albuquerque, N.M., returned a verdict today finding Brian Adrian Sloan guilty on aggravated child sexual abuse charges following a five-day trial. The guilty verdict was announced by U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson and Special Agent in Charge James C. Langenberg of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division.
The FBI arrested Sloan, 33, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Newcomb, N.M., in Aug. 2016, on an indictment filed on Aug. 23, 2016, alleging child sexual abuse offenses. The indictment was superseded on Jan. 24, 2017, and charged Sloan with sexually abusing a child under the age of 12 years on two occasions between May 2007 and Dec. 2007, and between May 2008 and Aug. 2008, and sexually abusing a second child under the age of 12 years between June 2003 and Aug. 2003. According to the superseding indictment, Sloan committed the crimes on the Navajo Indian Reservation in McKinley County, N.M.
Trial on the superseding indictment commenced on Nov. 13, 2018, and concluded this morning when the jury returned a guilty verdict against Sloan on all four counts of the superseding indictment.
Testimony at trial established that Sloan began sexually abusing the victim referenced in Counts 1, 2 and 3 of the superseding indictment during the summer of 2007. The victim, who was 11-years old when the sexual abuse began, testified being repeatedly sexually abused by Sloan from the beginning of the summer of 2007 through at least Aug. 2008. According to testimony, Sloan would find the victim alone at home and sexually abuse the victim while threatening and being physically abusive.
The victim referenced in Count 4 testified that the victim stayed at a relative’s house on a night during the summer of 2003, on the Navajo Indian Reservation, and during a night hide and seek game, the victim entered a dark bedroom where Sloan was hiding and Sloan grabbed and sexually molested the victim.
The jury deliberated approximately three hours before returning a guilty verdict.
At sentencing, Sloan faces a statutory mandatory minimum penalty of 30 years and a maximum of life in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and will be required to register as a sex offender. Sloan remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by the Gallup office of the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Novaline D. Wilson and Elisa C. Dimas are prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.
Laguna Pueblo Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting an Intimate Partner by StrangulationRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – William E. Valencia, 28, an enrolled member of Laguna Pueblo who resides in Paguete, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to assaulting his girlfriend by strangling or suffocating.
Valencia was arrested in Aug. 2018, on a criminal complaint charging him with assaulting a Laguna Pueblo woman by strangling her on July 17, 2018, in Cibola County, N.M. According to the complaint, Valencia assaulted the victim by stabbing her right arm with keys, punching and kicking her, and strangling her until she could not breathe and had blurry vision. The complaint alleged that the victim suffered punctures, bruising and red marks to both sides of her arms and her chest, and bruising and bumps to her head and legs as result of the assault.
During today’s proceedings, Valencia pled guilty to assault of an intimate partner by strangling or suffocating. In entering the guilty plea, Valencia admitted that on July 17, 2018, he assaulted his girlfriend by grabbing her by the throat and strangling her so she could not breathe.
At sentencing, Valencia faces a statutory maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison. He remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by the Laguna/Acoma Agency of the BIA Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elisa C. Dimas is prosecuting the case as part of the Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (Tribal SAUSA) Pilot Project in the District of New Mexico which is sponsored by the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women under a grant administered by the Pueblo of Laguna. The Tribal SAUSA Pilot Project seeks to train tribal prosecutors in federal law, procedure and investigative techniques to increase the likelihood that every viable violent offense against Native women is prosecuted in either federal court or tribal court, or both. The Tribal SAUSA Pilot Project was largely driven by input gathered from annual tribal consultations on violence against women, and is another step in the Justice Department's ongoing efforts to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in tribal communities.
Kewa Pueblo Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Avery Cate, 27, an enrolled member of the Kewa Pueblo who resides in Bernalillo, N.M., pled guilty this morning in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to assaulting a federal officer.
Cate was arrested in June 2018, on an indictment charging him with assaulting a federal officer. According to the indictment, Cate assaulted a Bureau of Indian Affairs officer on Jan. 30, 2015, on Kewa Pueblo in Sandoval County, N.M., while the officer was engaged in the performance of his official duties.
During today’s proceedings, Cate pled guilty to the indictment. In entering the guilty plea, Cate admitted that on Jan. 30, 2015, on Kewa Pueblo, he cursed, threatened, and approached the officers in a threatening manner. Cate further admitted resisting arrest and kicking a federal officer in the leg, causing the officer to fall. The officer obtained medical care for his leg and was diagnosed with a sprain as the result of Cate’s assault.
At sentencing, Cate faces a statutory maximum penalty of eight years in federal prison. Cate remains in federal custody pending a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and the Southern Pueblos Agency of the BIA’s Office of Justice Services and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elisa C. Dimas.
Artesia Man Sentenced to 75 Months for Federal Drug Trafficking and Firearms ConvictionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Timothy Caleb Martinez, 28, of Artesia, N.M., was sentenced today in Las Cruces, N.M., to 75 months in prison for his conviction on methamphetamine trafficking and firearms charges. Martinez will be on supervised release for five year after completing his prison sentence.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives charged Martinez in a criminal complaint filed on Aug. 4, 2017, with possession of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR). According to the complaint, law enforcement officers seized approximately 48.73 grams of pure methamphetamine, a firearm and ammunition while executing a search warrant at Martinez’s residence on Nov. 18, 2014, in Eddy County, N.M.
On June 20, 2018, Martinez pled guilty to a felony information charging him with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of an unregistered short-barreled shotgun. Martinez entered the guilty plea without the benefit of a plea agreement.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office, the Carlsbad Police Department, and the Pecos Valley Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Clara N. Cobos of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office prosecuted the case.
The Pecos Valley Drug Task Force is comprised of officers from the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office, Carlsbad Police Department and Artesia Police Department and is part of the HIDTA Region VI Drug Task Force. The High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program was created by Congress with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988. HIDTA is a program of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) which provides assistance to federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug-trafficking regions of the United States and seeks to reduce drug trafficking and production by facilitating coordinated law enforcement activities and information sharing.
Laguna Pueblo Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Assault ChargeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Phillip J. Pedro, 35, an enrolled member of the Laguna Pueblo who resides in Acoma Pueblo, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to assaulting his intimate partner by strangling or suffocating. Pedro pled guilty under a plea agreement that recommends that he be sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release.
The BIA arrested Pedro on July 18, 2018, on a criminal complaint charging him with assaulting an Acoma Pueblo woman by strangulation on June 27, 2018, on the Acoma Pueblo Indian Reservation in Cibola County, N.M. According to the complaint, Pedro assaulted the victim, his intimate partner, while she was eight-months pregnant. The victim suffered scratches on her neck and back, red spotting on her left eye and inside her bottom lip, and bruising and swelling on her left finger as the result of the assault. The victim was transferred to a hospital in Albuquerque due to the seriousness of the strangulation.
During today’s proceedings, Pedro pled guilty to a felony information charging him with assault of an intimate partner by strangling and suffocating. In entering the guilty plea, Pedro admitted that on June 27, 2018, he assaulted the victim by grabbing her by the throat and strangling her so she could not breathe.
Pedro remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by the Laguna/Acoma Agency of the BIA Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elisa C. Dimas is prosecuting the case as part of the Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (Tribal SAUSA) Pilot Project in the District of New Mexico which is sponsored by the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women under a grant administered by the Pueblo of Laguna. The Tribal SAUSA Pilot Project seeks to train tribal prosecutors in federal law, procedure and investigative techniques to increase the likelihood that every viable violent offense against Native women is prosecuted in either federal court or tribal court, or both. The Tribal SAUSA Pilot Project was largely driven by input gathered from annual tribal consultations on violence against women, and is another step in the Justice Department's ongoing efforts to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in tribal communities.
Colorado Woman Pleads Guilty in New Mexico to Federal Charges Arising Out of Nov. 2017 Crime Spree Resulting in Death of Carjacking VictimRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Trista Schlaefli, 33, of Colorado Springs, Colo., pled guilty this afternoon in federal court in Las Cruces, N.M., to charges arising out of a Nov. 27, 2017 crime spree during which Schlaefli and her co-defendant allegedly fled from a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint, carjacked a vehicle at gunpoint resulting in the death of a victim, and attempted to carjack two other vehicles. U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson, Special Agent in Charge James C. Langenberg of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division, New Mexico State Police Chief Pete Kassetas and Chief Patrick Gallagher of the Las Cruces Police Department announced the guilty plea.
Schlaefli and her co-defendant Daniel Lowell, 35, of Henderson, Colo., were charged in a nine-count indictment, filed on April 10, 2018, with high speed flight from an immigration checkpoint, carjacking, carjacking resulting in death, attempted carjacking, and possession of at least 15 unauthorized access devices. The indictment also charges Lowell with brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, attempted carjacking, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. It charges Schlaefli with aiding and abetting Lowell in brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and with attempted carjacking. According to the indictment, Lowell and Schlaefli committed the crimes on Nov. 27, 2017, in Dona Ana County, N.M.
The New Mexico State Police arrested Lowell and Schlaefli on state charges on Nov. 27, 2017, and the FBI arrested them on the federal indictment on April 25, 2018. The state charges were dismissed in May 2018, in favor of federal prosecution.
During today’s change of plea hearing, Schlaefli pled guilty to high speed flight from an immigration checkpoint, carjacking, carjacking resulting in death, aiding and abetting brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, attempted carjacking, and possession of unauthorized access devices. In her plea agreement, Schlaefli admitted that on Nov. 27, 2017, she and an accomplice fled from a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint in Dona Ana County at a high rate of speed in a vehicle they carjacked. Schlaefli initially drove the carjacked vehicle as they continued their flight, and her accomplice took the wheel until the vehicle blew a tire. According to Schlaefli’s plea agreement, the accomplice brandished a firearm as he and Schlaefli carjacked another vehicle from a couple and their two minor children as they continued their flight from law enforcement authorities. Schlaefli and her accomplice continued their high speed flight as they were pursued by law enforcement authorities into Las Cruces, where they crashed into a motorcyclist, who died as the result of injuries sustained during the crash. After the crash, Schlaefli attempted to carjack another vehicle.
In her plea agreement, Schlaefli admitted after she was arrested, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on a stolen vehicle Schlaefli had been driving and a hotel room where she had been staying and seized 15 drivers’ licenses, nine social security cards, one military identification and 31 credit cards. Schlaefli acknowledged that the identifications cards, social security cards and credit cards were stolen and she intended to use them for fraudulent purposes.
At sentencing, Schlaefli faces the following maximum statutory penalties:
- High-speed flight from an immigration checkpoint – five years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
- Carjacking – 15 years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
- Carjacking resulting in death – life imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
- Attempted carjacking – 15 years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
- Possession of unauthorized access devices – ten years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
- Aiding and abetting brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence –mandatory minimum of seven years and maximum of life imprisonment to be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed.
Lowell has entered a plea of not guilty to the charges against him and remains in custody pending trial, which currently is scheduled for Jan. 2019. Charges in indictments are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the Las Cruces office of the FBI, the Las Cruces Police Department and the New Mexico State Police with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Border Patrol, and the 3rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marisa A. Ong and Aaron O. Jordan of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office are prosecuting the case.
Kewa Pueblo Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Assault ChargeRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Waylon Evan Pacheco, 29, an enrolled member and resident of Kewa Pueblo, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to assaulting his intimate partner by strangling or suffocating.
Pacheco was arrested in Dec. 2017, on an indictment charging him with assault of an intimate partner by strangling and assault with a dangerous weapon, a brick, with intent to do bodily harm. According to the indictment, Pacheco committed the crime on July 4, 2016, on the Kewa Pueblo Indian Reservation in Sandoval County, N.M.
During today’s proceedings, Pacheco pled guilty to assault of an intimate partner by strangling or suffocating. In entering the guilty plea, Pacheco admitted that on July 4, 2016, he assaulted his former girlfriend by hitting her face and body, hitting her with a brick and strangling her by putting his knee on the victim’s neck while she was on the ground. Pacheco further admitted that the victim briefly lost consciousness as a result of the assault.
At sentencing, Pacheco faces a statutory maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison. He remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by Southern Pueblos Agency of the BIA, Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer M. Rozzoni is prosecuting the case as part of the Tribal Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (Tribal SAUSA) Pilot Project in the District of New Mexico which is sponsored by the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women under a grant administered by the Pueblo of Laguna. The Tribal SAUSA Pilot Project seeks to train tribal prosecutors in federal law, procedure and investigative techniques to increase the likelihood that every viable violent offense against Native women is prosecuted in either federal court or tribal court, or both. The Tribal SAUSA Pilot Project was largely driven by input gathered from annual tribal consultations on violence against women, and is another step in the Justice Department's ongoing efforts to increase engagement, coordination and action on public safety in tribal communities.
Albuquerque Man Sentenced to Seven Years for Violating Federal Firearms Laws Relating to June 2016 Armed Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Jason Blackwood, 46, of Albuquerque, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court to 84 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for using and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence in relation to a June 2016, armed bank robbery.
Blackwood was arrested on June 1, 2016, on a criminal complaint charging him with the armed bank robbery of the Bank of the West located at 780 Juan Tabo Blvd. NE in Albuquerque. According to the complaint, Blackwood entered the bank, pointed a handgun at a bank teller, and demanded money. After the bank teller responded to Blackwood’s demand for money, Blackwood left the bank.
Blackwood subsequently was indicted on June 30, 2016, and was charged with armed bank robbery, using and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. According to the indictment, Blackwood committed the three crimes on June 1, 2016, in Bernalillo County, N.M. At the time, Blackwood was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he previously had been convicted of robbery and second degree commercial burglary.
On June 28, 2018, Blackwood pled guilty to using and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. In entering the guilty plea, Blackwood admitted that on June 1, 2016, he entered the Bank of the West in Albuquerque, approached a bank teller’s window, pointed a firearm at the bank teller and demanded money. Blackwood further admitted that he continued to point the firearm at the bank teller after receiving an amount of money and demanded that the bank teller give him more money.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI and the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul H. Spiers prosecuted the case as part of a federal anti-violence initiative that targets violent, repeat offenders for federal prosecution. Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies work with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target for federal prosecution violent or repeat offenders with the goal of making communities in New Mexico safer places for people to live and work.
Acoma Pueblo Woman Sentenced for Federal Child Abuse ConvictionRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Shania Shroulote, 25, an enrolled member of the Acoma Pueblo who resides in San Fidel, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to three years of probation for her conviction on a misdemeanor child abuse charge.
On June 28, 2018, Shroulote pled guilty to an information charging her with child abuse. In entering the guilty plea, Shroulote admitted that on March 11, 2017, she operated a motor vehicle recklessly within the Acoma Pueblo while under the influence of alcohol and caused a single vehicle collision. Shroulote further admitted that her actions endangered the health and wellbeing of a child who was a passenger in the vehicle and was injured in the collision.
This case was investigated by the Laguna/Acoma Agency of the BIA’s Office of Justice Services and the Acoma Pueblo Tribal Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Spindle.
Albuquerque Man Arrested on Federal Carjacking and Firearm Charges Following High Speed ChaseRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Donovan Young, 21, of Albuquerque, N.M, made his initial appearance this morning in federal court on a criminal complaint charging him with carjacking and firearms offenses. Young remains in federal custody pending preliminary and detention hearings scheduled for tomorrow.
Officers of the Albuquerque Police Department and deputies of the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office arrested Young on state charges on Nov. 2, 2018. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrested Young on Nov. 5, 2018, on the federal criminal complaint, which charges him with carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
According to the federal criminal complaint, Young and another man (who has not been apprehended) robbed the carjacking victim in the parking lot of a supermarket on Nov. 2, 2018. Young allegedly took the victim’s keys, wallet, and cell phone by pointing an AK type rifle at the victim and allegedly telling him that his belongings “aren’t worth your life.” Young allegedly fled the scene in the victim’s pickup truck, but officers located Young at a nearby gas station using a tracking feature for the victim’s phone. Young allegedly sped away when officers tried to arrest him, leading officers on a pursuit through residential neighborhoods reaching speeds more than 100 miles per hour. Officers arrested Young when he stopped his truck in a mound of dirt and recovered a rifle matching the victim’s description of the firearm used in the crime. The victim identified Young as the same man who pointed the rifle at him at the supermarket.
The maximum statutory penalty for a conviction on the carjacking offense is 15 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. The statutory penalty for a conviction on the firearm offense is a mandatory minimum seven years of imprisonment, which must be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed. Charges in criminal complaints are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless found guilty in a court of law.
This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Albuquerque Police Department, and the Bernalillo County’s Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel A. Hurtado.