District of New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Jayvian Chee, 19, of Mescalero, New Mexico, appeared in federal court on Feb. 1 for detention hearing where he was charged with cyberstalking.

According to a criminal complaint, from Nov. 28, 2021, through Jan. 9, 2022, Chee allegedly harassed a minor through social media platform Instagram by sending her threating messages and cyberstalking her. Chee created multiple spam accounts and threatened to send explicit material of the victim to others.

A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Chee faces up to five years in prison.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Matilda McCarthy Villalobos is prosecuting this 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/.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on Jan. 31 released the Justice Department’s new National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking pursuant to the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act.

Rooted in the foundational pillars and priorities of the interagency National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking, which President Biden released on Dec. 3, 2021, the Justice Department's National Strategy is expansive in scope.  It aims to enhance the department's capacity to prevent human trafficking; to prosecute human trafficking cases; and to support and protect human trafficking victims and survivors.

“Human trafficking is an insidious crime,” said Attorney General Garland. “Traffickers exploit and endanger some of the most vulnerable members of our society and cause their victims unimaginable harm. The Justice Department’s new National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking will bring the full force of the Department to this fight.”

“The department’s national strategy helps to strengthen our efforts to combat human trafficking here in New Mexico,” said Fred J. Federici, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico. “We have always prioritized human trafficking, including working collaboratively with state, local and tribal investigators to identify and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law the perpetrators of these heinous crimes.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office worked with the FBI to form a new Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking task force in 2020, comprised of the FBI, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, Albuquerque Police Department and investigators from the 2nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office. 

“Our staff has worked to educate the public on such topics as the indicators of human trafficking and manipulation tactics by traffickers. In addition to having a fulltime coordinator for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons, our staff has performed presentations in tribal communities specific to human trafficking and DOJ initiatives that promote public safety in Indian Country. We’ve also worked with our tribal partners to develop Tribal Community Response Plans. This national strategy helps us to increase these efforts across all communities in New Mexico.”

The New Mexico Human Trafficking Task Force is led by the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office and service provider organization The Life Link.  This task force is federally funded through the Bureau of Justice Assistance and provides training throughout the state with both law enforcement agencies and service provider organizations. 

Among other things, the Justice Department’s multi-year strategy to combat all forms of human trafficking will:

• Strengthen engagement, coordination and joint efforts to combat human trafficking by prosecutors in all 94 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and by federal law enforcement agents nationwide.
• Establish federally-funded, locally-led anti-human trafficking task forces that support sustained state law enforcement leadership and comprehensive victim assistance.
• Step up departmental efforts to end forced labor by increasing attention, resources and coordination in labor trafficking investigations and prosecutions.
• Enhance initiatives to reduce vulnerability of American Indians and Alaska Natives to violent crime, including human trafficking, and to locate missing children.
• Develop and implement new victim screening protocols to identify potential human trafficking victims during law enforcement operations and encourage victims to share important information.
• Increase capacity to provide victim-centered assistance to trafficking survivors, including by supporting efforts to deliver financial restoration to victims.
• Expand dissemination of federal human trafficking training, guidance and expertise.
• Advance innovative demand-reduction strategies.

The department’s strategy will be implemented under the direction of the National Human Trafficking Coordinator designated by the Attorney General in accordance with the Abolish Human Trafficking Act of 2017.

If you believe that you or someone you know may be a victim of human trafficking, please contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline at   1-888-373-7888, or Text 233733.

To read the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking click here.

ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Fred J. Federici, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico, has announced that Ready Pharmacy has agreed to a $400,000 settlement relating to civil claims brought by the Department of Justice on behalf of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) El Paso Division Regulatory Diversion Group.

Ready Pharmacy, which is no longer in operation, was registered with the DEA as a retail pharmacy and authorized to dispense controlled substances customers pursuant to the provisions of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).

At issues in the civil claim was the failure to account for over 26,000 missing dosage units of controlled substances on March 15, 2016. Also, during an on-site inspection, controlled substances were discovered unsafeguarded and not properly stored.

By the terms of the settlement, the owners of Ready Pharmacy have agreed to pay $400,000 and the government will release Ready Pharmacy from any further civil or administrative monetary claims the United States has for the covered conduct under the CSA.

“In reaching this agreement, we emphasize the necessity of adherence to the Controlled Substances Act,” said U.S. Attorney Federici. “It is our duty to ensure that the conditions and responsibilities upon which that authority is based are upheld and that its limits are not abused by retail pharmacies registered with the DEA.”

“The Controlled Substances Act sets forth clear rules for all entities that dispense controlled substances,” said Greg Millard, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s El Paso Division. “Our office will continue to use its oversight responsibilities to ensure registrants comply with the law.”

Ready Pharmacy must pay an initial amount of $50,000 within 30 days of the settlement date and must pay the remaining $350,000 over a five-year period.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ruth F. Keegan represented the United States in the settlement agreement.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Julian Silversmith, 44, of Jones Ranch, New Mexico, was sentenced in federal court on Jan. 28 to nine years in prison for one count of interference with interstate commerce by robbery and violence and one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence in Indian Country. Co-defendant Aurelius Eddie, 20, of Vanderwagen, New Mexico, was sentenced also Jan. 28 to twelve years in prison for one count of interference with interstate commerce by robbery and violence, one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon in Indian Country. Both defendants are members of the Navajo Nation.

            Silversmith pleaded guilty on Aug. 12, 2019, while Eddie pleaded guilty on Sept. 19, 2019. 

            According to their plea agreements and other court records, on April 18, 2019, Silversmith drove co-defendants Eddie and Kevin Marquez, 22, of Gallup, New Mexico, to a convenience store in Vanderwagon, knowing that they intended to rob the store. As Eddie and Marquez entered the convenience store, they began waving firearms, and Eddie fired a round into the ceiling. They then proceeded to steal alcohol from the refrigerators and behind the counter while Marquez pointed his firearm at the clerk. Eddie admitted that following the robbery he fired a round at two Navajo Police officers.

            The crimes were committed on the Navajo Nation.

            Upon release from prison, Silversmith and Eddie will be subject to three years of supervised release.

            Marquez pleaded guilty on Sept. 26, 2019, to one count of interference with interstate commerce by robbery and violence, one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. On Jan. 27, 2021, Marquez was sentenced to seven years in prison and three years of supervised release.

            The office of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the McKinley County Sheriff’s Department and Navajo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Spindle and Frederick Mendenhall prosecuted the case.

ALBUQUERQUE – Paul James Jaramillo, III, 31, of Santa Rosa, New Mexico, pleaded guilty in federal court on Jan. 27 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.

            A federal grand jury indicted Jaramillo on May 12, 2021, on one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. 

            In the plea agreement, Jaramillo admitted that on March 11, 2021, while a resident at Diersen Charities Residential Reentry Center in Albuquerque, he accessed his “stash” of methamphetamine and fentanyl, which had been hidden in a bathroom stall.  He admitted that the drugs in his possession were not meant for his own personal use and that he intended to deliver or transfer them to another person.

             Jaramillo remains in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. The maximum penalty for each count is up to 20 years in prison.

            The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle T. Nayback is prosecuting the case.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Manison Largo, 42, of Church Rock, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced in federal court today to six years and six months in prison for abusive sexual contact with a child. Largo pleaded guilty on Oct. 19, 2021.

According to his plea and other court records, on multiple occasions between August 2017 and March 2018, Largo sexually abused the victim, who also is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. During the course of the abuse, which occurred at Largo’s residence in Church Rock on the Navajo Nation, the victim had not attained the age of 12. The victim was able to borrow a phone and called 911 to report the abuse.

Upon his release from prison, Largo will be subject to five years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.

The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander F. Flores prosecuted the case.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Andres Manuel Castro Aragon, 29, of Albuquerque, made an initial appearance in federal court today facing a charge of bank robbery. He will remain in custody pending a preliminary and detention hearing scheduled for Jan. 31.

According to a criminal complaint, on Jan. 25, Castro Aragon allegedly entered the First Convenience Bank located inside a Walmart on Coors Boulevard in Albuquerque and presented a demand note to the teller, implying he had a firearm. The teller complied and Castro Aragon allegedly fled with a large amount of cash. After security personnel observed Castro Aragon allegedly crossing I-40 on a pedestrian bridge, Albuquerque police located Castro Aragon, who allegedly had cash protruding from his pockets, and detained him.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting our financial institutions and the people they serve” said Fred Federici, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico. “Anyone who believes bank robbery is a quick means to easy money should understand that this is a serious crime with severe consequences. That quick robbery means up to 20 years in prison, and more if a gun is used.”

“Bank robbery is not only a crime against the financial institutions so many of us depend on, it's a threat to the safety of the employees, general public and law enforcement officers,” said Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office. “The FBI and our partners are committed to tracking down each and every bank robber and bringing them to justice. We are asking for the public's help. Take a look at our website - bankrobbers.fbi.gov - and if you have any information, call us immediately at 1-800-CALL-FBI. Together, we can make our community safer.”

A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Castro Aragon faces up to 20 years in prison.

The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Eva M. Fontanez is prosecuting the case.

ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Anthony Faustine, 41, of Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Acoma, pleaded guilty in federal court on Jan. 26 to involuntary manslaughter in Indian Country. Faustine will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.

Faustine was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 9, 2020. According to the plea agreement, on April 22, 2020, Faustine attempted to evade law enforcement while driving with a blood alcohol level at twice the legal limit. Faustine lost control of the vehicle. As the vehicle rolled, a passenger, identified in court records as John Doe, was ejected and died from injuries sustained in the crash. The incident occurred on the Pueblo of Laguna.

By the terms of the plea agreement, Faustine faces a sentence of five years and 10 months in prison.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case with assistance from the Laguna Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.

ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Romeo Martinez, 23, of Mescalero, New Mexico, pleaded guilty in federal court on Jan. 25 to assault resulting in serious bodily injury in Indian Country. Martinez will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.

According to the plea agreement and other court documents, on June 29, 2021, Martinez, who is not a member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe or any other federally recognized tribe, arrived at his grandmother’s residence and assaulted a victim, identified in court records as “M.B.,” on the Mescalero Apache Reservation. Martinez accused his grandmother and M.B., who is an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, of having his vehicle towed, and began to scream at them. Martinez attacked M.B., hitting her face multiple times and causing a laceration to her forehead and a broken nose and septum. As a result of Martinez’s assault, the victim required medical treatment and surgery.

The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office and the Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matilda McCarthy Villalobos is prosecuting the case.

ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Romeo Martinez, 23, of Mescalero, New Mexico, pleaded guilty in federal court on Jan. 25 to assault resulting in serious bodily injury in Indian Country. Martinez will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.

According to the plea agreement and other court documents, on June 29, 2021, Martinez, who is not a member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe or any other federally recognized tribe, arrived at his grandmother’s residence and assaulted a victim, identified in court records as “M.B.,” on the Mescalero Apache Reservation. Martinez accused his grandmother and M.B., who is an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, of having his vehicle towed, and began to scream at them. Martinez attacked M.B., hitting her face multiple times and causing a laceration to her forehead and a broken nose and septum. As a result of Martinez’s assault, the victim required medical treatment and surgery.

The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office and the Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matilda McCarthy Villalobos is prosecuting the case.

###

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Werni Lopez-Perez, 25, and Mario Guizar-Anchondo, 19, both of Santa Fe, New Mexico, made an initial appearance in federal court today, facing charges of conspiracy, possession with the intent to distribute 400 grams and more of fentanyl, possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. They will remain in custody pending an arraignment and detention hearing scheduled for Jan. 27.

Lopez-Perez and Guizar-Anchondo were indicted on Jan. 11. According to the indictment and other court records, on Dec. 30, 2021, Guizar-Anchondo allegedly was driving and Lopez-Perez allegedly was a passenger in a pickup truck when Santa Fe police performed a traffic stop for nonfunctioning tail lights. Neither Guizar-Anchondo nor Lopez-Perez had a valid driver license and the officer informed them the truck would be impounded. During a subsequent search of the truck, investigators allegedly recovered approximately 1,730.7 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 3,401.5 grams of fentanyl, five loaded firearms, and $5,563 in cash.

An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted on the drug charges, Lopez-Perez and Guizar-Anchondo face a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison. If convicted on the firearm charge, they would face a consecutive 5 years and up to life in prison.

The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Santa Fe Police Department, New Mexico State Police and Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Louis Mattei is prosecuting the case.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Jesus Manuel Castaneda-Villa, 31, of Mexico, made an initial appearance in federal court today, facing charges of carjacking and carrying, using, or possessing a firearm during, in relation to or in furtherance of a crime of violence. Castaneda-Villa remains in custody pending a preliminary and detention hearing scheduled for Jan. 26.

According to a criminal complaint, the victim allegedly met with Castaneda-Villa, her ex-boyfriend, in a hotel in Las Cruces. After the two began to argue, Castaneda-Villa allegedly threatened the victim and threw a toolbox at her. He allegedly demanded her car keys, then pointed a firearm at her and took her purse and cell phone as well. As Castaneda-Villa was going through her purse, the victim jumped from an open window, injuring herself. Castaneda-Villa then allegedly fled in the victim’s vehicle.

A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Castaneda-Villa faces a minimum of seven years and up to life in prison.

The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, Las Cruces Police Department, New Mexico State Police and District Attorney's Office for the 3rd Judicial District of New Mexico. Assistant United States Attorney Marisa A. Ong is prosecuting the case.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Gilbert Michael Coriz, 35, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, appeared in federal court on Jan. 19 for a detention hearing on a charge of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Coriz will remain in custody pending trial.

Coriz was indicted on Dec. 8, 2021, and arraigned on Jan. 18. According to the indictment and other court records, on Jan. 1, 2021, law enforcement responded to a report of shots fired at a residence on Camino Capitan. After obtaining a search warrant, officers cleared and searched the residence and found Coriz allegedly hiding in a water heater closet in the garage. Officers also found three firearms and various types of ammunition.

Coriz was previously convicted of aggravated battery, felon in possession of a firearm, tampering with evidence, possession of a controlled substance and residential burglary. As a previously convicted felon, Coriz cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.

A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Coriz faces up to 10 years in prison.

The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Santa Fe Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Samuel A. Hurtado is prosecuting the case.

ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Bennick Yazzie, 32, of Shiprock, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pleaded guilty in federal court on Jan. 14 to sexual abuse of a minor. Yazzie will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.

According the plea agreement and other court records, between Oct. 26, 2019, and Oct. 25, 2020, Yazzie sexually assaulted Jane Doe, who was 13 years old, on the Navajo Nation Reservation. 

By the terms of the plea agreement, Yazzie faces four years and nine months in prison.

The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Chelsea N. Van Deventer is prosecuting the case.

ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Hassan Alqahtani, 29, of Saudi Arabia, was sentenced in federal court on Jan. 6 to two years and six months in prison for being an alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition. A jury convicted Alqahtani on May 14, 2021.

According to a criminal complaint and other court records, on Aug. 8, 2019, the FBI received a tip about Alqahtani, a citizen of Saudi Arabia, illegally possessing a firearm and making threats. On Dec. 12, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Alqahtani’s residence and discovered a loaded firearm and ammunition. As an international student on a F1 student visa, Alqahani cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition.  

Upon his release from prison, Alqahtani may be subject to deportation by the Department of Homeland Security, and will be subject to two years of supervised release.

The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Department of Homeland Security. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jack Burkhead and Paul Mysliwiec prosecuted the case.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – James Darius Caje, 28, of Mescalero, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, was sentenced on Jan. 11 in federal court to 10 years in prison for sexual abuse of a minor. Caje pleaded guilty on June 10, 2021.

According to the plea agreement and other court records, on the night of Feb. 24 or early morning Feb. 25, 2020, Caje allegedly entered the bedroom of the victim, who was 14-years old, and sexually assaulted her. The following day, the victim reported the assault to a school counselor, who then reported it to law enforcement. The assault occurred on the Mescalero Apache Reservation.

Upon his release from prison, Caje will be subject to 40 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.

The FBI investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan prosecuted the case.

            ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. –Billy George West, 78, of Carlsbad, New Mexico, pleaded guilty in federal court on Jan. 10 to enticement of a minor. West will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.

            According to the plea agreement and other court records, on April 30, 2021, West exchanged sexually explicit messages via telephone with a nine-year old girl in Florida. During the exchange, West using the screen name “Piper,” sent a photo of his genitalia and received a photo of the victim’s genitalia. West admitted that he knew the victim was a minor.

            West faces a minimum of 10 years and up to a statutory maximum of life in prison.

            The Roswell Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office and the Carlsbad Police Department investigated this case with assistance from the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Marisa A. Ong is prosecuting the case.

            ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. –Jason Chandler Mapp, 41, of Rogers, New Mexico, pleaded guilty in federal court on Jan. 10 to enticement of a minor. Mapp will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.

            According to the plea agreement and other court records, beginning in January 2020, Mapp, who at the time was a middle school bus driver for Dora Consolidated Schools in Roosevelt County, New Mexico, allegedly began using Instagram and TikTok to message two minor victims. Mapp allegedly used multiple accounts to pressure the victims into sending him nude photographs of themselves and each other. Mapp admitted that he knew the victims were minors.

             Mapp faces a minimum of 10 years and up to a statutory maximum of life in prison.

            The Roswell Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office and the Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Marisa A. Ong and Joni Autrey Stahl are prosecuting the case.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Matthew “Stacks” Woods, 32, of Indiana, was sentenced in federal court on Jan. 10 to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by means of force, threats, fraud and coercion and aiding and abetting. Woods pleaded guilty on June 8.

Woods and his co-conspirators, Cornelius “Chip” Galloway and Marcus “Taylor Made” Taylor, were charged in a superseding indictment on Dec. 3, 2019, with seven counts of sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and attempted sex trafficking. The charges included two counts of sex trafficking of minors.

In his plea agreement, Woods admitted to his part in the conspiracy to recruit, maintain, advertise and transport victims for the purpose of prostitution. The victims were expected to work when they were told, with no say over their hours, fees or the locations in which they were to perform sex acts. The victims were not allowed to keep any of the money paid for their services.

According to the plea, Galloway was the leader of the organization, Taylor transported the victims and Woods physically punished victims for non-compliance.

Upon his release from prison, Woods will be subject to 10 years of supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender. Additionally, Woods must pay $5,000 under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act.

Galloway pleaded guilty on March 17, 2020, and was sentenced on Aug. 4, 2020, to 17 years in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release. Taylor pleaded guilty on May 21, 2020, and was sentenced on May 21, 2021, to eight years in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release. Both are required to register as sex offenders.

Homeland Security Investigations and the Albuquerque Police Department investigated this case with assistance from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jack E. Burkhead and Letitia C. Simms prosecuted the case.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Dan Keith Bobelu, 31, of Albuquerque, was sentenced today in federal court to two years and six months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Bobelu pleaded guilty on May 18, 2021.

According to the plea agreement and other court records, the offense took place in Albuquerque on Aug. 6, 2020. Bobelu admitted that he was carrying a revolver and ammunition in his pants pocket when he was taken into custody. As a previously convicted felon, Bobelu could not legally possess firearms or ammunition.

Upon his release from prison, Bobelu will be subject to three years of supervised release.

The Albuquerque Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Nayback prosecuted the case.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Jason E. Begay, 40, of Shiprock, New Mexico, made his initial appearance in federal court on Jan. 6 on a two-count indictment charging him with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine and using and carrying a firearm during the commission of a drug trafficking crime. Begay remains in custody pending an arraignment and detention hearing scheduled for Jan. 10.

According to the indictment and other court records, on Nov. 14, 2021, near Morgan Lake on the Navajo Nation, Navajo Police officers responding to a 911 call made contact with Begay who was slumped over his steering wheel. A handgun allegedly was in plain view on the front passenger seat. Begay allegedly led officers in a high-speed pursuit to the south side of Shiprock, where his vehicle became stuck in soft dirt near a fence line. Begay allegedly got out of the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot, but was apprehended by officers. Officers allegedly found Begay in possession of several firearms, ammunition and approximately 6.8 pounds of methamphetamine.

An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Begay faces a minimum of five years and up to lifetime in prison.

The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office and the Navajo Nation Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Novaline D. Wilson is prosecuting the case.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – George Martinez, 45, of Albuquerque, pleaded guilty in federal court today to 42 counts each of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft and six counts of money laundering. A federal grand jury indicted Martinez on March 12, 2021.

          According to the indictment and other court records, from May 18, 2011, through July 16, 2018, Martinez allegedly used his position as the Unit Supervisor/Bureau Chief of the Questionable Refund Unit at the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department to fraudulently alter tax refunds and direct them to bank accounts that he controlled.

          Martinez perpetrated the fraud by copying tax returns that had already been processed or creating new returns in taxpayers’ accounts. He altered information such as taxpayers’ Social Security numbers, bank account numbers and withholding amounts in the returns. By changing the withholding amounts, he increased the amounts of the refunds. Martinez fraudulently directed $689,797 into accounts in his control.

          Martinez faces a minimum of two years and up to 32 years in prison.

          The FBI Albuquerque Field Office and the IRS Criminal Investigation Phoenix Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department’s Tax Fraud Investigations Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremy Peña and Paul Schied prosecuted the case.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Emerson Pinto, 58, of Crownpoint, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was sentenced on Dec. 29 in federal court to eight years and one month in prison based on convictions for two counts of abusive sexual contact of a minor in Indian Country.

Pinto pleaded guilty on Aug. 11. In his plea agreement, he admitted that between Sept. 1, 2009, and Oct. 31, 2009, he knowingly engaged in unlawful sexual contact with two young victims, both of whom were under the age of 12 at the time of the offenses. Pinto admitted to touching the girls for sexual gratification during a visit to the victims’ home on the Navajo Nation in McKinley County, New Mexico.

Upon his release from prison, Pinto will be subject to five years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.

The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Novaline D. Wilson prosecuted the case.

# # #

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Brodie Coonsis, 28, of Zuni, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Zuni, pleaded guilty on Dec. 27 in federal court to second-degree murder in Indian Country.

According to the plea agreement and other court documents, Coonsis shot and killed John Doe on Feb. 26 at John Doe’s residence in Zuni. Coonsis, who had been using drugs and was upset with John Doe, travelled to the victim’s house on the Pueblo of Zuni. After John Doe opened the door, Coonsis fired his shotgun four times as he followed the victim up the stairs, eventually killing him.

Coonsis is currently in custody pending his sentencing, which has not been scheduled. He faces up to life in prison.

The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Marshall is prosecuting the case.

###

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Paul Ramirez, 33, of Albuquerque, appeared in federal court on Dec. 27 on a charge of bank robbery. Ramirez will remain in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for Dec. 29.

            A federal grand jury indicted Ramirez on Dec. 8. According to the indictment and other court records, on Nov. 1, Ramirez allegedly entered a Bank of the West location in Albuquerque and presented a demand note to a teller. The teller complied and Ramirez allegedly placed the money in a bag and fled the bank on a motorcycle.

            Albuquerque police responding to the robbery spotted Ramirez and followed him. Ramirez allegedly proceeded to an off-road area where he discarded his helmet and backpack as well as some articles of clothing. Officers continued following Ramirez to an apartment and later arrested Ramirez after he left the apartment. At the time of the arrest, Ramirez allegedly had the money from the robbery in his possession.

            An indictment is only an accusation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Ramirez faces up to 20 years in prison.

            The FBI Violent Crimes and Gangs Task Force investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaymie L. Roybal is prosecuting the case. 

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Gregory Diaz, 34, of Farmington, New Mexico, was sentenced in federal court on Dec. 14 to three years and one month in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Diaz pleaded guilty on May 12.

According to the plea agreement and other court records, on Oct. 3, 2018, Diaz sold a .40 caliber pistol to an undercover law enforcement officer. At the time, Diaz has four previous felony convictions in the State of New Mexico, including possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), attempt to commit residential burglary, child abuse and possession of a firearm or destructive device by a felon. As a convicted felon, Diaz could not legally possess a firearm or ammunition.

Upon his release from prison, Diaz will be subject to three years of supervised release.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jaymie L. Roybal and Jack E. Burkhead prosecuted the case.

# # #

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Shiloh Y. McLemore, 42, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, appeared in federal court for a preliminary and detention hearing on Dec. 17 where he was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. A federal grand jury indicted McLemore on Dec. 8.

According to the indictment, on Aug. 23, McLemore was found in possession of 25 firearms and various types of ammunition in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. McLemore was convicted in 2016 for assault with a dangerous weapon in Indian Country. As a convicted felon, McLemore cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition.

A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, McLemore faces up to life in prison and a minimum of 15 years if he is found to be an armed career criminal.

The FBI and U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Novaline D. Wilson is prosecuting the case.

# # #

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A federal jury returned a guilty verdict on Dec. 16 in the trial of Paul Michael Astorga, 35, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, on one count each of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Astorga will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.

            According to an indictment and other court records, on Nov. 3, 2020, Astorga was found in possession of a firearm and fentanyl. At the time of his arrest, Astorga was subject to an active warrant for his arrest for a violation of the terms of his supervised release for a 2014 conviction of being a felon in possession of a firearm. A search of his residence resulted in the recovery of a loaded 9mm handgun and 66 pills containing fentanyl.

            Astorga was previously convicted of multiple felonies, including robbery, possession of a controlled substance, tampering with evidence, trafficking by possession with intent to distribute, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. As a previously convicted felon, Astorga could not legally possess a firearm or ammunition.

            Astorga faces an anticipated sentencing range of 1 to 12 and a half years in prison with a mandatory five-year sentence to be served consecutively for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

            The FBI, United States Marshals Service and Las Cruces Police Department Metro Narcotics Taskforce investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Maria Y. Armijo and Joni Autrey Stahl are prosecuting the case.

            ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. –Angel DeLeon, 43, of Mexico, was sentenced today in federal court to life in prison for murder. A federal jury convicted DeLeon on Sept. 16.

            According to court records, DeLeon, along with Joe Lawrence Gallegos, 52, and Edward Troup, 50, killed another inmate, identified as “FC,” in the Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility (“SNMCF”) in Doña Ana County, New Mexico on March 26, 2001, by using a cord from a laundry bag to strangle him. Another inmate, identified in court records as “RG,” was also killed by strangulation at SNMCF on that same date. The killings were carried out on the orders of Billy “Wild Bill” Garcia, 66, of Albuquerque, acting in his capacity as a leader of the Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico (SNM) prison gang.

            Garcia, Troup and Gallegos were found guilty on May 25, 2018.  Garcia was sentenced to life in prison on June 11, 2019. Troup was sentenced to life in prison on Nov. 6, 2018. Gallegos was sentenced to life in prison on April 21, 2020.

            DeLeon, a Mexican national, was arrested on Oct. 4, 2019, after being extradited from Mexico to the United States for trial.

            The SNM is an ultra-violent criminal organization whose members, prospects and associates engage in acts of violence and other criminal activities, including murder, attempted murder, kidnapping and conspiracy to manufacture and distribute narcotics. Members have admitted in court that the organization engages in racketeering activity.

             The FBI, the New Mexico State Police, the New Mexico Corrections Department and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in securing DeLeon’s arrest and extradition from Mexico. Assistant United States Attorneys from the Las Cruces branch of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico prosecuted the case.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Duane Day, 31, of New Laguna, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Laguna, was sentenced in federal court today to three years in prison for assault with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily harm in Indian Country. Day pleaded guilty on June 18.

According to the plea agreement and other court records, on March 24, 2020, at his father’s home on the Laguna Pueblo, Day became angry that he could not access the internet. He then assaulted his niece by punching, shoving and strangling her twice. The second time, she lost consciousness after he strangled her for a prolonged period. When the victim regained consciousness, he threatened her with a metal hoe.

The victim was later transported to the University of New Mexico Hospital Emergency Room for treatment.

In 2015, Day pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years in prison followed by three years of supervised released for assault by strangulation and attempted manslaughter. In his plea agreement, Day admitted that on the Laguna Pueblo on May 12, 2014, he assaulted the victim by placing his knee on her neck and placing his hand over her mouth causing her to suffocate. Day acknowledged that he attempted to kill the victim by impeding the victim’s breathing causing her to lose consciousness.

Upon his release from prison, Day will be subject to three years of supervised release.

The Violent Crime and Gang Squad of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office and the Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case with assistance from the Laguna Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander F. Flores prosecuted the case.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Angel Lara, 33, of Albuquerque, appeared in federal court on Dec. 14 for a preliminary and detention hearing on a charge of attempted bank robbery. Lara will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.

            According to a criminal complaint, on Nov. 30, Lara allegedly entered a Wells Fargo Bank in Albuquerque and presented a demand note to a teller. The note included instructions to alert the media. The teller pressed an alarm button. As Lara was approached by security, Lara allegedly kept his hand in his jacket pocket and claimed to have a firearm. Police later arrived at the bank, negotiated with Lara, and took him into custody.

            A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Lara faces up to 20 years in prison.

            The FBI Violent Crimes and Gangs Task Force investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel A. Hurtado is prosecuting the case. 

ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Estevan Antonio, 26, of Acoma, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Acoma Pueblo, was sentenced in federal court on Dec. 9 to five years and three months in prison for sexual abuse in Indian Country.

Antonio pleaded guilty on June 28, 2019. According to the plea agreement, on the night of July 5, 2017, and into the morning of July 6, 2017, Antonio sexually abused the victim, identified in court records as Jane Doe. Antonio sexually abused the victim knowing she was incapable of declining to participate. The offense took place on the Acoma Pueblo in Cibola County, New Mexico.

Upon his release from prison, Antonio will be subject to five years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.

The Southern Pueblos of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) investigated this case with assistance from the Acoma Pueblo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Spindle prosecuted the case as part of the 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/.  Individuals with information relating to suspected child predators and suspected child abuse are encouraged to contact the Children’s Advocacy Center tipline at (575) 526-3437.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Solomon Gbara, 47, of Albuquerque, pleaded guilty on Dec. 13 in federal court to aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of false and fraudulent income tax returns. A federal grand jury indicted Gbara on March 12.

According to the indictment and other court records, from February 2015 through May 2020, Gbara, who owned and operated Express Tax SG, assisted in the preparation and presentation of individual income tax returns (IRS Form 1040) that included claims Gbara knew were false. These misrepresentations included claims for dependents and Schedule C businesses to which the taxpayers were not entitled under the provisions of internal revenue laws. Gbara also admitted to showing clients tax returns with certain expected refunds, then filed returns with higher refunds and pocketed the difference.

The fraudulent returns filed by Gbara represented a total loss of over $90,000 in tax revenues. Gbara faces up to three years in prison for each count. A sentencing date has not been scheduled.

IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Peña is prosecuting the case.

ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Michael DeHerrera, 25, of Belen, New Mexico, pleaded guilty in federal court on Nov. 24 to being a felon in possession of firearm and carjacking. DeHerrera will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.

DeHerrera was indicted on July 29, 2020. According to the plea agreement, on Feb. 3, 2020, DeHerrera carjacked a victim by threating her with a screwdriver in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. DeHerrera began to drive away with a victim still in the car, causing her to jump from the moving vehicle. DeHerrera also admitted that on Feb. 18, 2020, he possessed a firearm before attempting to dispose of it by throwing it from the window of a moving vehicle.

At the time DeHerrera possessed the firearm, he had a prior felony conviction for armed robbery. As a convicted felon, DeHerrera could not legally possess a firearm.

By the terms of the plea agreement, DeHerrera faces five years in prison.

The FBI Albuquerque Field Office and the Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Frederick T. Mendenhall is prosecuting the case.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Joshua Cordova, 39, of Albuquerque, was sentenced in federal court on Dec. 9 to a year and nine months in prison for mail fraud and theft of federal funds. Cordova was indicted on Dec. 17, 2019, and pleaded guilty on May 5.

            From approximately 2010 to December 2018, Cordova was employed by Sandia Corporation and later National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia, which were contracted by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to operate Sandia National Laboratories (SNL). Cordova’s duties included providing training to military, law enforcement and emergency response personnel in the use of equipment developed at SNL. Beginning in late 2012, Cordova applied for and was issued a purchasing card funded by DOE for the limited purpose of procuring equipment and materials necessary for Cordova to perform his duties at SNL.

             In his plea agreement, Cordova admitted that during the period from September 2014 through September 2018 he fraudulently used the government-funded procurement cards that had been entrusted to him to purchase items for the personal use of himself, his family, and his associates. These items included: jewelry; watches, clothing; shoes; golf clubs and golf accessories; exercise equipment; toys; barber equipment, furnishings and supplies; building materials; and home appliances.

            To conceal the fraudulent use of his purchasing card, Cordova made misrepresentations and false statements, claiming in his monthly reconciliation reports the purchases were legitimate items. For example, in August 2017, Cordova purchased a diamond ring for $944 from Amazon.com that was shipped to his home. In his monthly report, he represented the purchase as “2 carbon fiber Manfredo 510 tripods.”

            As part of his sentence, Cordova must forfeit several items that were recovered by investigators and make restitution to the United States in the sum of $136,107.  Upon his release from prison, Cordova will be subject to a term of three years of supervised release.

            The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Inspector General investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy S. Vasquez prosecuted the case.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A federal court on Dec. 1 found Carlos Ortiz, 28, of Las Vegas, New Mexico, guilty of illegally guiding a bighorn sheep hunt in the Carson National Forest. On December 8, the court sentenced Ortiz to a year and a half of probation and fined him $7,600.

According to court records, on Aug. 7, 2020, Ortiz, doing business as Reaper Backcountry Outfitters, was guiding a party to hunt bighorn sheep. Though the itinerary for the hunt stated that it was to take place in the Santa Fe National Forest, the GPS coordinates included in the itinerary were located in the Carson National Forest.

Officers from the U.S. Forest Service and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish encountered the party at their campsite in the Carson National Forest. The officers also had encountered two individuals on horseback who told officers they were helping Ortiz pack out a bighorn sheep killed by Ortiz’s client. The officers confirmed that the sheep had been killed in the Carson National Forest.

At the time, Ortiz was not authorized to conduct any commercial activity in the Carson National Forest and was not authorized to guide bighorn sheep hunts in the Santa Fe National Forest. Additionally, he was not authorized to conduct guided hunts with overnight camping in either forest.

“Those at the Forest Service and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish who enforce our laws to protect and sustain our Nation’s forests and wildlife are stewards of our country’s rich and diverse natural heritage, which includes majestic animals like North America’s bighorn sheep,” said U.S. Attorney Fred Federici. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is fully committed to enforcing our land and wildlife laws so that all Americans, including generations of Americans to come, can enjoy our Nation’s natural resources, and not those who attempt to profit by violating the law.”

“I am very pleased to see this conviction and sentence,” said Special Agent in Charge James Alford from the U.S. Forest Service Southwestern Region. “The national forests belong to every citizen and when someone is willfully violating the law it steals opportunities for others to enjoy our public lands. This is especially true in this case since an outfitter guide was breaking the law for commercial gain. I want to thank our U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officers, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish conservations officers, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys for their outstanding work of protecting America’s national forests and natural resources.”

“I want to thank the U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officers and Conservation Officers for their hard work on this case in New Mexico’s backcountry,” said Game and Fish Colonel Bobby Griego. “It is important for all New Mexico Outfitters to ensure they not only have completed requirements from the Game and Fish Department, but also our federal and state land management partners.”

The U.S. Forest Service and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Louis Mattei and Rumaldo Armijo prosecuted the case.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Travis Fanning, 26, of Albuquerque, was sentenced on Dec. 8 in federal court to four years and nine months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession with intent to use or transfer five or more identification documents or authentication features. Fanning pleaded guilty on May 20.

According to the plea agreement and other court records, on Aug. 22, 2020, Fanning was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped for a traffic violation. Law enforcement found Fanning in possession of a loaded, stolen pistol. Three months later on Nov. 19, 2020, police responded to a report at an apartment complex regarding a man smoking methamphetamine and sleeping in a shared laundry room. Officers found Fanning with a loaded firearm and a folder filled with identification documents, including Social Security cards, driver licenses, bank statements and blank checks.

At the time of these incidents, Fanning had six previous felony convictions in Illinois and New Mexico. As a convicted felon, Fanning could not legally possess a firearm or ammunition.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaymie L. Roybal prosecuted the case.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Rodymar Lelis, 31, of the Philippines, was sentenced in federal court on Dec. 6 to three years in prison for possession of visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct and false swearing in immigration matters. Lelis pleaded guilty to these charges on July 8.

According to court records, Lelis moved from the Philippines to the United States following the issuance of a non-immigrant visa. In his visa application, Lelis falsely answered “no” to the question, “Have you ever been arrested or convicted of any offense or crime, even though the subject of a pardon, amnesty, or other similar action?” Lelis was arrested in 2018 in the Philippines, and knew that his answer was false.

After arriving in the United States and while staying at a hotel near the airport in Albuquerque, on Sept. 7, 2019, Lelis logged into the Facebook Messenger application on his cellphone. The application contained previously-uploaded child pornography, which caused Facebook to generate a CyberTipline Report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).

Upon his release from prison, Lelis will be subject to six years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender. However, Lelis has consented to deportation following his release.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with assistance from the Regional Computer Forensic Laboratory.

ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Juan Torres Flores, 23, of Albuquerque, pleaded guilty in federal court on Nov. 23 to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Torres will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.

According to the plea agreement and other court records, on March 2, Torres entered an Albuquerque laundromat and pointed his gun at a victim while chasing him around the building. Torres fled the scene and was shortly apprehended by law enforcement after absconding from a high-risk traffic stop. During the arrest, law enforcement discovered a loaded firearm.

As a previously convicted felon, Torres cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition. By the terms of the plea agreement, Torres faces up to 10 years in prison. 

The FBI Violent Crime Task Force investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raquel Ruiz-Velez is prosecuting the case.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – John Benjamin Thornton, 40, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, pleaded guilty on Dec. 3 to a nine-count superseding indictment charging him with cyberstalking and making threats in interstate commerce. He will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.

            A federal grand jury returned the second superseding indictment on Nov. 10. According to the indictment and other court records, Thornton had been the subject of complaints since November 2020 by several people who had received disturbing or threatening messages from him. On May 18, the FBI received information about threats Thornton sent to four people, including his former wife. The messages were sent from Las Cruces within the District of New Mexico.

            Thornton faces up to five years in prison for each count.

            The FBI investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Marisa A. Ong and Joni Stahl are prosecuting the case

     ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. –Jody Rufino “Mono” Martinez, 42, of Truchas, New Mexico, was sentenced on Dec. 2 to life in prison for murder, participation in a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (“RICO”) conspiracy, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition for conduct related to the Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico (SNM) prison gang. A federal jury convicted Martinez on March 16.

     According to public court records, Martinez has been a member and self-identified “soldier” of the SNM prison gang since 1998.  Martinez has committed numerous violent crimes on behalf of the SNM since joining the gang.  These crimes included murdering a man on Dec. 5, 2008, in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, for failing to deliver drugs to an SNM gang member. On Oct. 24, 2018, Martinez knowingly possessed a firearm and ammunition when he shot a victim at a residence in Santa Fe County, New Mexico, as retaliation for supposedly disrespecting the SNM.  As a previously convicted felon at the time, Martinez could not legally possess a firearm or ammunition.

     The FBI, New Mexico State Police, Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office and the New Mexico Department of Corrections investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Las Cruces Branch Office prosecuted the case as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force 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.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Anthony Lucero, 36, of Isleta, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Isleta, was sentenced today in federal court to three years and one month in prison for domestic assault by a habitual offender. Lucero pleaded guilty on Feb. 10.

     According to the plea agreement, on Nov. 13, 2019, Lucero assaulted his girlfriend. Lucero admitted to punching the victim in the face causing substantial bodily injury. The assault occurred on the Isleta Pueblo.

     Prior to the assault, Lucero had been convicted in tribal court on three separate occasions of offenses that would be considered assaults against an intimate partner.

     The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Isleta Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander Flores, Raquel Ruiz-Velez and Joseph Spindle prosecuted the case.

ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Conrad Lucero, 71, of Mesita, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Laguna Pueblo, was sentenced in federal court on Oct. 28 to four years in prison for sexual abuse in Indian Country. Lucero is a former governor of the Laguna Pueblo.

     Lucero pleaded guilty on April 23. According to the plea agreement, on March 20, 2019, Lucero sexually abused Jane Doe while she was staying at his residence in Cibola County, New Mexico, on the Laguna Pueblo. Lucero approached the victim while she slept and engaged in sexual contact without her consent.

     After his release from prison, Lucero will be subject to five years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.

     The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case with assistance from the Laguna Pueblo Police Department and the Isleta Pueblo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fredrick T. Mendenhall and Kyle T. Nayback prosecuted the case.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A federal jury returned a guilty verdict on Dec. 1 in the trial of Jesse Barela, 35, of Albuquerque. Barela will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.

            A grand jury indicted Jesse Barela and his brother, Julian Barela, 50, on Sept 10, 2020, charging them with interference with commerce by threats and violence.  Julian Barela pleaded guilty on Oct. 6.

            According to the indictment and other court records, on November 26, 2019, the two men entered an Alberton’s Supermarket in Albuquerque and filled a shopping cart with hundreds of dollars in goods. They then proceeded to the exit without paying. When a store employee attempted to stop them, Jesse Barela brandished what appeared to be a firearm while Julian Barela struck the employee several times with a baton.

            Jesse Barela faces up to 20 years in prison.

            The FBI and the Albuquerque Police Department investigated this case as part of the FBI Violent Crime and Gangs Task Force. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Santiago Martinez, 29, of Taos, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Taos Pueblo, appeared for a preliminary hearing in federal court today where he was charged with murder in Indian Country. Martinez will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.

            According to a criminal complaint, in the early morning hours of Nov. 13, Santiago and the victim, identified in court records as Jane Doe, allegedly had been drinking and began to argue. The complaint alleges that Martinez assaulted Jane Doe and ran over her with her own vehicle.

            FBI special agents, with the assistance of the Taos Pueblo Department of Public Safety and Taos Police Department, arrested Martinez without incident in Taos Pueblo on Nov. 22.

            A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Martinez faces life in prison.

            The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Taos Pueblo Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Aliberti is prosecuting the case. 

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Rosa De Santiago, 48, of Sunland Park, New Mexico, was sentenced in federal court today to 12 years in prison for her part in a drug trafficking and international money laundering conspiracy.

De Santiago was one of 22 defendants charged in a 44-count superseding indictment on Aug. 16, 2017, as the result of a 16-month federal investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) targeting a Mexican drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for importing large quantities of heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine from Mexico and distributing the drugs in New Mexico, Texas, Kansas, Kentucky and Illinois. During the investigation, law enforcement authorities seized approximately 30 kilograms of heroin, 64 kilograms of methamphetamine, 17 kilograms of cocaine, 20 kilograms of marijuana, 24 firearms, $102,000 in currency, and three vehicles.

De Santiago pleaded guilty on July 16, 2018, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, conspiracy to commit international money laundering, and possession of methamphetamine and heroin with intent to distribute. While one defendant remains a fugitive, Santiago is the last defendant in custody to be sentenced.

Upon her release from prison, De Santiago will be subject to five years of supervised release.

The Las Cruces and Albuquerque offices of the DEA investigated the case with assistance from IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Border Patrol, New Mexico State Police and Hatch Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Selesia L. Winston and Sarah M. Davenport are prosecuting the cases as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program and the New Mexico Heroin and Opioid Prevention and Education (HOPE) Initiative. 

The OCDETF Program is 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 HOPE Initiative was launched in January 2015 by the UNM Health Sciences Center and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in response to the national opioid epidemic, which has had a disproportionately devastating impact on New Mexico.  Opioid addiction has taken a toll on public safety, public health and the economic viability of our communities.  Working in partnership with the DEA, the Bernalillo County Opioid Accountability Initiative, Healing Addiction in our Community (HAC), Albuquerque Public Schools and other community stakeholders, HOPE’s principal goals are to protect our communities from the dangers associated with heroin and opioid painkillers and reducing the number of opioid-related deaths in New Mexico.  The HOPE Initiative is comprised of five components: (1) prevention and education; (2) treatment; (3) law enforcement; (4) reentry; and (5) strategic planning.  HOPE’s law enforcement component is led by the Organized Crime Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the DEA in conjunction with their federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement partners.  Targeting members of major heroin and opioid trafficking organizations for investigation and prosecution is a priority of the HOPE Initiative.

ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Joseph Matney, 41, of Albuquerque, was sentenced in federal court on Nov. 16 to 18 years in prison for armed robbery of a pharmacy, theft of medical products and possession with intent to distribute Oxycodone and Alprazolam.

Matney pleaded guilty on Feb. 4. According to the plea agreement, Matney entered and robbed an Albuquerque pharmacy on Jan. 31, 2018. Matney and a juvenile accomplice held the employees at gunpoint and demanded opioid painkillers, anxiety pills and money from behind the counter. They fled with more than 2,500 pills before law enforcement arrived. On Feb. 12, 2018, law enforcement in Denver, Colorado, arrested Matney after searching his vehicle and finding 1,600 of the stolen prescription pills and a firearm.

Upon his release from prison, Matney will be subject to 5 years of supervised release.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Albuquerque Police Department investigated this case with assistance from the Denver Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter J. Eicker prosecuted the case.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Juan Aguirre, 30, of Albuquerque, appeared in federal court on Nov. 17 on charges of carjacking, attempted carjacking and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Aguirre will remain in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for Nov. 19.

According to a criminal complaint, on the morning of Oct. 12, detectives with the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) Gang Unit along with APD Gang Suppression Officers allegedly found Aguirre in a stolen pickup truck. At the time, Aguirre allegedly was in possession of a handgun. Aguirre has previous felony convictions for conspiracy to commit robbery, auto burglary, and conspiracy to commit auto burglary. As a previously convicted felon, Aguirre cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.

That afternoon while in police custody, Aguirre allegedly became ill and requested to be transported to a hospital by ambulance. Once at the hospital, Aguirre allegedly walked out of the emergency entrance and through the parking lot. He allegedly approached an occupied vehicle parked next to an elementary school, insinuated that he had a gun, and demanded that the driver get out of the vehicle and leave the keys inside. The vehicle owner drove away before Aguirre could enter the vehicle.

Aguirre then allegedly approached another vehicle at a nearby preschool. As the victim got out of the vehicle, Aguirre allegedly demanded the keys. When the victim refused, Aguirre allegedly ripped the keys from the victim’s hand and took the victim’s vehicle.

On Oct. 14, Gang Unit detectives located and arrested Aguirre.

A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Aguirre faces up to 15 years in prison.

The FBI Violent Crimes and Gangs Task Force and APD investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Trembley is prosecuting the case. 

# # #

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – On Nov. 12 a federal jury in Las Cruces convicted two defendants of carjacking resulting in death following a nearly two-week trial.

On the night of May 27, 2019, Stetson Shane Barnes, 29, of Loving, New Mexico, Donald Alfred Busch, 33, of Carlsbad, New Mexico, and a third person traveled to the victim’s home in Loving with an accomplice, Jehra Lynn Hedgecock, 33, of Carlsbad. The group had conspired to steal a motorcycle from the victim, identified in court records as J.S.

Upon the group arriving at the victim’s residence in Hedgecock’s truck, Hedgecock knocked at the front door in an attempt to lure J.S. outside. Meanwhile, Busch located the motorcycle he wanted to steal under the victim’s carport and began pushing it away. As the victim emerged from his home, Barnes, Busch and Hedgecock all pointed firearms at him. Jurors heard testimony that Busch ordered J.S. back into his home while holding him at gunpoint.

While Busch continued to push the motorcycle off the victim’s property, Hedgecock and Barnes got into Hedgecock’s truck. As they began to drive away, Barnes fired twelve shots from the truck into the residence, the last of which struck and killed J.S.  The victim’s father testified that J.S. called him to ask for help, and that he was on the phone with J.S. when he heard gunshots ring out.  According to courtroom testimony, J.S. was taking cover in the back room of his home when he was struck by the last bullet fired by Barnes.p

After the shooting, Hedgecock stopped the truck on the side of the road where Barnes helped Busch to load the motorcycle in the back of the truck, and the conspirators fled.  Hedgecock’s truck was found burning in a ravine outside Carlsbad the following day and J.S.’s motorcycle was later recovered from Barnes’ property.

Hedgecock pleaded guilty on July 22 to one count of conspiracy, one count of carjacking resulting in death and one count of using, brandishing and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of such crime.

Barnes and Busch were found guilty of conspiracy to commit carjacking, carjacking resulting in death, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Busch was also found guilty of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

Barnes, Busch and Hedgecock remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.  The maximum statutory penalty for all three defendants is up to life in prison.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from New Mexico State Police and the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Maria Y. Armijo and Ry Ellison are prosecuting this case.

# # #

ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Lalonzo Simmons, 46, of Albuquerque, was sentenced in federal court on Nov. 4 to 24 years in prison for interference with interstate commerce by robbery and violence, possessing and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Simmons pleaded guilty Dec. 26, 2019. According to the plea agreement and other court records, on March 19, 2018, Simmons and his accomplice, Shakeam Kinney, 32, entered an Albuquerque business through the back of the store armed with firearms when they encountered two employees. Kinney demanded the phone of one of the employees, and when the employee initially did not give Kinney the phone Kinney discharged his weapon. Shortly after, Kinney and Simmons fled the store after taking money from the register. 

On April 3, 2018, Simmons and Kinney robbed an Albuquerque marijuana dispensary at gunpoint and fled the store with stolen money and large amounts of marijuana. On May 1, 2018, Simmons and Kinney, robbed another Albuquerque dispensary at gunpoint. Kinney entered the business and discharged his weapon into the ceiling, demanding money and merchandise and threatening an employee. Kinney and Simmons fled the store with stolen money and marijuana. Soon after, Simmons was arrested by law enforcement at his residence.

On June 15, Kinney was sentenced to 22 years and five months in prison for interference with interstate commerce by robbery and violence, possessing and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime and being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition.

Upon his release from prison, Simmons will be subject to five years of supervised release.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Albuquerque Police Department investigated the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy D. Trembley prosecuted the case.