District of New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE – A Mescalero man pleaded guilty to child abuse after firing a weapon near two young children and placing them in a situation that endangered their lives.

According to court documents, on August 26, 2025, Emilio Morales, 24, a non-Indian, while intoxicated, fired a handgun multiple times near two minor children and threatened to kill himself while holding the firearm in front of them. When police arrived with weapons drawn, Morales held one child and demanded that officers shoot him. Both children are enrolled members of the Mescalero Apache Tribe.

Morales pleaded guilty to abuse of a child. At sentencing, he faces 6 to 12 months imprisonment followed by a one-year term of supervised release.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated the case with assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jackson K. Dering V is prosecuting the case.

ALBUQUERQUE – Antonio Chaco, a convicted murderer already serving a federal prison sentence for the 2020 murder of Thomas Brown, received additional prison time for attacking a CoreCivic detention officer while in federal custody awaiting that murder trial.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, on November 5, 2024, Chaco, 42, assaulted a CoreCivic detention officer at the Cibola County Correctional Center. After the officer opened Chaco’s cell door, Chaco launched a surprise attack, punching her repeatedly in the face, attempting to throw her over a second-floor railing, and then taking her to the ground, where he straddled and strangled her.

Following the assault, medical staff evaluated the officer and documented bruising and swelling on the left side of her face, and she later sought additional treatment at a local hospital for neck, arm, and facial pain.

At the time of the assault, Chaco was in federal custody awaiting trial in connection with the 2020 killing of Thomas Brown, whom he beat and abandoned in the To’Hajiilee wilderness without food, water, or shelter. Chaco later pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in that case and was sentenced to 17 years in prison.

In this case, the Court imposed a second 46-month term of imprisonment for the assault. 24 months of that sentence will run consecutively, resulting in an additional two-year period of incarceration beyond the 17-year sentence Chaco is already serving.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and United States Marshal David Barnett made the announcement today.

The U.S. Marshals Service investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones and Brittany DuChaussee prosecuted both cases. 

ALBUQUERQUE – A California woman was sentenced to 30 months in prison and will be ordered to pay more than one million dollars in restitution for orchestrating a decades long advance fee fraud scheme that promised victims access to a nonexistent multi-million-dollar fortune.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court records, beginning in 2001 and continuing through September 2023, Lanette Bashore orchestrated an advance fee fraud scheme in which she falsely claimed to own or control a multi-million-dollar fortune that was tied up by taxes, legal holds, and other financial barriers. Using a mutual acquaintance to gain victims’ trust, Bashore convinced individuals in New Mexico and elsewhere to send her thousands of dollars up front to “unlock” the purported fortune, promising to repay them with massive returns. In reality, no such fortune existed. Bashore deposited the victim payments into bank accounts she controlled and used the money to fund her personal lifestyle and gambling.

As victims grew suspicious and reported the scheme, the FBI opened an investigation that confirmed Bashore’s fraud through victim interviews and banking records. After being interviewed by agents in 2023, Bashore contacted victims and attempted to persuade at least one of them to falsely characterize her representations about the multi-million-dollar fortune to the FBI, conduct that resulted in an obstruction enhancement at sentencing.

Bashore pled guilty to mail fraud. Upon her release from prison, Bashore will be subject to three years of supervised release.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico prosecuted the case.

ALBUQUERQUE – An Anthony man was sentenced to 235 months in prison for distributing methamphetamine and possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court records, in July and August 2024, David Amaya, 43, sold methamphetamine to a controlled buyer from a tow-behind trailer on his parents’ property in Anthony, New Mexico. The controlled buys prompted law enforcement to obtain and execute a search warrant on August 22, 2024.

Agents searched the trailer and an attached makeshift bathroom structure, recovering over 1.18 kilograms of methamphetamine. Additional methamphetamine was found in a clothing hamper and under the bed, along with two firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

Amaya pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Upon his release from prison, Amaya will be subject to five years of supervised release.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistant from the  Las Cruces Metro Narcotics Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Williams prosecuted the case.

ALBUQUERQUE – A Mescalero man was sentenced to 57 months in prison for assaulting a woman and causing severe injuries.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court records, on June 27, 2024, Myron Edward Blake, Jr., 40, an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, assaulted Jane Doe with a cinder block and a 2x6 board, causing substantial bodily injury.

Blake pleaded guilty to one count of assault resulting in substantial bodily injury. Upon his release from prison, Blake will be subject to three years of supervised release.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case. The Assistant U.S. Attorney Silvia Delgado is prosecuting the case.

ALBUQUERQUE – A Las Cruces man pleaded guilty in federal court to robbing two banks in February 2025.

According to court documents, on February 12, 2025, Daniel Guereca, 29, robbed the U.S. Bank in Los Lunas, New Mexico.  Wearing a black hoodie and a white mask, Guereca passed a handwritten demand note to two tellers before fleeing the bank with at least $6,000 in cash. Guereca then escaped the scene with the assistance of Breanne Gallegos, 29, who was waiting in the getaway vehicle and who had written the demand note that Guereca used.

Eight days later, on February 20, 2025, Guereca robbed the PNC Bank in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Wearing a green hat, white mask, black hoodie, Adidas jacket, and sunglasses, Guereca again passed a handwritten note, claiming he was armed and demanding $20,000. The teller turned over $3,313 before Guereca fled the bank, leaving the demand note behind. Guereca then escaped the scene with the assistance of, Aarika Cuevas, 35, who was waiting in the getaway vehicle, who had written the demand note that Guereca used for this second bank robbery, and who had entered PNC bank a few minutes before the robbery to assess the feasibility of robbing the bank.

Fingerprint analysis of the demand note recovered from the PNC Bank positively identified Guereca as the robber, and surveillance footage from both incidents showed a suspect matching his height and build.

Guereca pleaded guilty to bank robbery and faces up to 20 years in federal prison. Upon his release from prison, Guereca will be subject to three years of supervised release.

Gallegos pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank robbery and faces up to five years in federal prison. Upon her release from prison, Gallegos will be subject to three years of supervised release.  Cuevas is currently charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank robbery and likewise faces up to five years in federal prison if convicted.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Las Cruces Police Department, the Los Lunas Police Department, and the Valencia County Sheriff's Office. Criminal Chief Richard Williams and Assistant U.S. Attorney Grant B. Gardner are prosecuting the cases.

ALBUQUERQUE – An Arizona man pleaded guilty to assaulting a federal officer after ramming a U.S. Border Patrol vehicle while fleeing in a stolen car in Las Cruces.

According to court documents, on March 31, 2025, Christopher Jack Leach, 33, learned there was a warrant for his arrest in Arizona, borrowed a friend’s vehicle under false pretenses, and fled toward Florida with a passenger knowing the vehicle was stolen. He traveled across state lines while evading law enforcement.

On April 2, 2025, Leach was driving the stolen vehicle through Las Cruces when he saw law enforcement following him and fled at a high rate of speed. U.S. Border Patrol agents responded and during the pursuit Leach accelerated toward an unmarked Border Patrol vehicle on a narrow street, prompting an agent to exit. Leach continued his flight, at one point driving into the agents’ vehicle, causing a collision, and fleeing the scene.  Leach was later apprehended by the New Mexico State Police.

Leach pleaded guilty to assault upon a federal officer involving physical contact. At sentencing, he faces up to eight years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol, New Mexico State Police, and Las Cruces Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alyson Hehr is prosecuting the case.

ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock woman pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter killing her daughter.

According to court documents, on October 24, 2022, Maylene John, 35, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation at the time of the offense, stabbed her 7-year-old daughter in the heart with a knife, causing her death. John was under the influence of methamphetamine at the time of the incident.

John pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. At sentencing, she faces up to 15 years in federal prison. Upon her release from prison, John will be subject to three years of supervised release.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Caitlin L. Dillon and Eliot Neal are prosecuting the case.

ALBUQUERQUE – Today, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico announced its immigration enforcement statistics for this week. These cases are prosecuted in partnership with the El Paso Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, along with Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, and assistance from other federal, state, and county agencies.

In the one-week period ending December 5, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office brought the following criminal charges in New Mexico:

• 58 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326)
• 1 individual was charged this week with Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324)
• 89 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325)

Many of the defendants charged pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1326 had prior criminal convictions for rape, kidnapping, domestic violence, child endangerment, criminal damage to property, and DUI.

These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

These statistics represent prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico only. The numbers do not include individuals apprehended by immigration enforcement officials and subjected solely to administrative process.

Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the District of New Mexico. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.

The District of New Mexico consists of 33 counties and shares 180 miles of international border with Mexico.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys from Albuquerque and Las Cruces work directly with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to prosecute immigration-related and other federal offenses.

ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man has been charged after an alleged assault left a victim seriously injured.

According to court documents. on November 18, 2025, Darrell Joe Ben, Jr., 35, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, allegedly assaulted the victim following a day of drinking. Multiple witnesses contacted emergency services. When officers arrived, they observed the victim with serious injuries consistent with assault and immediately detained Ben at the scene.

The victim was transported to a local hospital and received treatment for serious injuries before being transferred for further care. During a subsequent interview, Ben acknowledged drinking heavily but did not provide a clear account of how the victim’s injuries occurred.

Ben is charged with assault resulting in serious bodily injury and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. Ben faces 10 years in prison if convicted of the current charges.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Teleky is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

ALBUQUERQUE – A Peñasco man was sentenced to more than 21 years in prison for the stabbing death of another man.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, on December 25, 2022, Byron Sanchez, 49, an enrolled member of the Picuris Pueblo, was involved in an altercation with John Doe at his residence in Peñasco, New Mexico, within the exterior boundaries of the Picuris Pueblo. During the altercation, which occurred while both individuals were under the influence of alcohol, Sanchez fatally stabbed John Doe and placed his body in a bedroom. Law enforcement officials discovered John Doe’s body at the residence on January 11, 2023.

Sanchez subsequently pled guilty to second degree murder. Upon his release from prison, Sanchez will be subject to five years of supervised release.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and District 7 of the New Mexico State Police. Assistant United States Attorney R. Eliot Neal is prosecuting the case.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, which aims to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people through the resolution of MMIP cases and communication, coordination, and collaboration with federal, Tribal, state, and local partners.  The Department views this work as a priority for its law enforcement components.  Through the MMIP Regional Outreach Program, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify MMIP cases and issues in Tribal communities and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. This prosecution upholds the Department’s mission to the unwavering pursuit of justice on behalf of Indigenous victims and their families. 

ALBUQUERQUE – Four members of the Navarrette Drug Trafficking Organization have been indicted, and one charged by a criminal complaint, on federal drug trafficking charges following an investigation into the distribution of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine in Hobbs, New Mexico.

According to court documents, from October 2024, through December 2025, Raul Muñoz Navarrette, 44, his sons Raul Hernandez Navarrette, 26, and Adrian Hernandez Navarrette, 21, Amanda "Mandy" Ortega, 44, and Leonel Jaquez-Martinez, 45, a Mexican national, illegally present in the United States who had been previously deported, conspired and attempted to distribute, and distributed, controlled substances throughout Lea County.

Raul Muñoz Navarrette made multiple sales of methamphetamine to undercover agents beginning in October 2024, when he sold approximately 26 grams of methamphetamine for $500. The quantities escalated over subsequent months, with Raul Muñoz Navarrette selling over 400 grams of pure methamphetamine on multiple occasions for $3,500 each. On April 29, 2025, Raul Muñoz Navarrette arranged for the delivery of over 427 grams of pure methamphetamine to an undercover agent and accept payment of $3,500. On July 8, 2025, Raul Muñoz Navarrette sold over 1,200 grams of pure methamphetamine to an undercover agent for $9,500. Leonel Jaquez-Martinez attempted to provide one 440 grams of that 1200 grams to Raul Muñoz Navarrette.

On August 1, 2025, Raul Muñoz Navarrette provided fentanyl to Amanda Ortega, who then distributed it to an individual which resulted in a non-lethal overdose. Following the overdose, Amanda Ortega told Raul Muñoz Navarrette that the fentanyl was too strong and warned they could face murder charges if someone died.

Beginning in early September 2025, Raul Hernandez Navarrette coordinated an extensive cocaine distribution operation, directing Adrian Hernandez Navarrette and Raul Muñoz Navarrette to deliver cocaine to customers throughout Hobbs, including at a hotel in Hobbs. Adrian Hernandez Navarrette was apprehended by police at that location with 1.5 grams of cocaine, a loaded .45 caliber firearm, and a drug ledger. Throughout the remainder of September 2025, Raul Hernandez Navarrette continued coordinating cocaine sales, frequently directing customers to Raul Muñoz Navarrette’s ranch where they would pick up the cocaine.

On December 3, 2025, federal agents executed search warrants on six residences connected to the Navarrette Drug Trafficking Organization. During execution of those federal search warrants, federal agents located and seized 15 rifles, 14 pistols, approximately one pound of methamphetamine, approximately 500 pills of fentanyl, and approximately eight ounces of cocaine.

Raul Muñoz Navarrette is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine, eight counts of distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, two counts of distribution of fentanyl, distribution of cocaine, 10 counts of distribution of cocaine, and three counts of using a communication facility to facilitate drug trafficking. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.

Amanda “Mandy” Ortega is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of fentanyl, and three counts of using a communication facility to facilitate drug trafficking. If convicted, she faces up to 40 years in prison.

Raul Hernandez Navarrette is charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, 20 counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, 14 counts of distribution of cocaine, and three counts of using a communication facility to facilitate drug trafficking. If convicted, he Navarrette faces up to 20 years in prison.

Adrian Hernandez Navarrette is charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, using and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, and three counts of using a communication facility to facilitate drug trafficking. If convicted, Adrian Hernandez Navarrette faces up to life imprisonment.

Leonel Jaquez-Martinez is charged with attempting to distribute methamphetamine, re-entry of a removed alien, and being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Omar Arellano, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s El Paso Division, made the announcement today.

These arrests are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving understanding children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Region II CORE 7 is comprised of agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service, Customs and Border Protection – Office of Field Operations, U.S. Border Patrol and Air and Marine, Office of Professional Responsibility, United States Department of the Interior – Bureau of Land Management, Joint Task Force North, United States Postal Inspection Service, United States Marshal Service, Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Texas Department of Public Safety, El Paso Police Department, New Mexico State Police, West Texas / New Mexico High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas, Albuquerque Police Department, New Mexico Sixth Judicial District, Las Cruces/Dona Ana County Metro Narcotics Agency, and the prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Districts of New Mexico and Western Texas.

Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

ALBUQUERQUE – The United States has reached a civil settlement with Luis Carlos Cordova, operator of Limitless Aesthetics and Healthcare in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, to resolve allegations that he failed to meet federal controlled-substance recordkeeping requirements under the Controlled Substances Act.

According to the settlement agreement, Cordova committed multiple recordkeeping violations over a two-year period. For the clinic’s 2021 biennial inventory, he allegedly failed to record the required count or volume of the controlled substances on hand and could not account for 240 missing dosages of controlled substances. For the 2022 biennial inventory, he again failed to document the required count, volume, and finished form of controlled substances and failed to account for an additional four missing dosage units.

Per the settlement agreement, Cordova also allegedly failed to record the actual dates of receipt for controlled-substance shipments delivered on four occasions between 2020 and 2021, and that he failed to document the bottle size for 269 dispensing-log entries between September 30, 2020, and May 15, 2022. Federal law requires practitioners to maintain complete, accurate, and current records for all controlled substances they receive, store, and dispense so that inventories can be fully tracked and audited.

“Accurate recordkeeping is the backbone of the Controlled Substances Act and the clearest way to prevent diversion,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison. “This office and our DEA partners will keep enforcing those requirements without exception so New Mexicans stay protected from the risks of missing or unaccounted-for controlled substances.”

“The men and women of the Drug Enforcement Administration will continue to utilize every tool at its disposal to hold those who betray the American trust,” said Omar Arellano, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s El Paso Division. “When a DEA registration is issued, practitioners are held to the highest standard; they are expected to properly handle and document the handling of controlled substances.”

Under the settlement, Cordova will pay $70,000 to resolve the alleged civil violations. The agreement includes no admission of liability but resolves the United States’ civil monetary claims arising from this conduct.

U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Omar Arellano, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s El Paso Division, made the announcement today.

The Drug Enforcement Administration supported the Government’s investigation. The governments investigations were led by Assistant United States Attorney Sean M. Cunniff and Auditors Julie Chappell and Phillip Stella. 

ALBUQUERQUE – A former student doctor was sentenced to 30 years in prison for producing and possessing child sex abuse material.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court records, between June 2020, and February 2024, Kevin Weiss, 29, produced child sexual abuse imagery of a minor victim. Further, between December 2023, and March 2024, Weiss possessed child sex abuse material involving prepubescent minors.

Weiss pled guilty to production of child pornography and possession of child pornography. Upon his release from prison, Weiss will be subject to 10 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Ryan G. McRae, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso, made the announcement today.

The Albuquerque Police Department investigated this case with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the New Mexico State Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Jaymie L. Roybal and Meg Tomlinson are prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, 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 Justice.gov/PSC.

ALBUQUERQUE – The U.S. Attorney's Office announced that it has reached a settlement with a former Department of Energy (DOE) engineer to resolve allegations that he secretly worked for Air Force contractors while holding his full-time DOE position.

Jose A. Nieves was employed as an engineer at DOE's Sandia Field Office. Between April 2021 and September 2021, he allegedly took a second job with Air Force contractor Pacific Architects and Engineers (PAE) while still working full-time at DOE. After leaving PAE, he allegedly secured another position with Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC) from September 2021 through July 2022, again while maintaining his DOE job.

The government's investigation revealed that Nieves allegedly lied to get these contractor positions. He reportedly told PAE he had retired from DOE when applying for that job. Later, when applying to ASRC, he allegedly claimed his DOE employment had ended. In reality, he kept working at DOE during both contractor jobs.

To maintain the deception, Nieves allegedly submitted false timesheets to both employers during his dual employment. Investigators found he filed 19 fraudulent timesheets with PAE, 24 with ASRC, and 33 with DOE, claiming to work full-time hours at both jobs simultaneously. This scheme allegedly allowed him to collect two government paychecks for overlapping work hours.

The Air Force contractors paid Nieves based on these false timesheets and then sought reimbursement from the government, resulting in improper payments of taxpayer funds. Under the settlement agreement, Nieves will pay the United States $165,000, which includes $156,799.22 in restitution.

U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Inspector General supported the Government’s investigation. The government’s investigations were led by Assistant United States Attorney Sean M. Cunniff and Auditors Phillip Stella and Julie Chappell and criminal investigators from the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. 

ALBUQUERQUE – An Arizona man was sentenced to 96 months in prison for the assault of a one-month-old child.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, in October 2022, Logan Nelson, 22, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, assaulted a one-month-old baby multiple times. As a result of the final incident on October 15, 2022, the baby suffered an ulna fracture on their left arm and multiple other fractures in the legs and ribs.

Nelson subsequently pled guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Upon his release from prison, Nelson will be subject to three years of supervised release.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittany DuChaussee and Mark Probasco are prosecuting the case. 

ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man was sentenced to approximately 10 months imprisonment for using social media to issue violent threats against the President.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, between January 2 and 4, 2025, Tyler Leveque, 38, made a series of social media posts threatening to kill then President-Elect Trump. First, in a TikTok video posted on January 2, 2025, Leveque made statements indicating his disdain for several people and groups of people. Leveque stated these people should be “fucking scared,” that Leveque didn’t care if he (Leveque) died, and his willingness to die is what should frighten them the most. Leveque ended the video with the taunt “Run, run.”

Then, on January 3, 2025, Leveque made threats on the social media platform “X” (formerly “Twitter”) stating the following:

• “@realDonaldTrump I got my eyes on you sir! Cant wait for your Victory rally! The 19th right!? Lol you and your rich friends are dead no threat a promise”
• “Hey @celebrities @ceos @elonmusk @DonaldTrump @Joemarafa its too late for yall shouldve shut down tik tok a long time ago see u on the 19thfor war!”
• In response to a January 2, 2025, post from President-Elect Trump, Leveque wrote “Die”

Finally, on January 4, 2025, Leveque posted the following on Facebook:

• “Just bought my first gun bitches!”
• “Hey world hey America hey trump hey ceos get rich we are hunting you down! Hahaha I’m getting ready myself! Here we come it ends now”
• “The 19th we march the sts to our state offices and demand change they are threatening shutting down the power grid on us! Fuck them! If ur there see ya! If not! U disappoint me and wish u the best I more than likely will die or be thrown in jail but unlike u all I am fighting for what’s right!”

The U.S. Secret Service and the FBI contacted Leveque at his Albuquerque residence on January 6, 2025. During this encounter, law enforcement learned that Leveque was in the process of purchasing a firearm from an Albuquerque firearms dealer. The U.S. Secret Service confirmed Leveque paid for the firearm online on January 4, 2025, but had not yet finalized the purchase, nor taken possession of the gun. Although Leveque stated his belief that his online activity was constitutionally protected, law enforcement explained that his posts had crossed the line into threats, which are not protected under the First Amendment.

“Threatening violence against public officials is a serious federal offense, and this office will prosecute these cases to the fullest extent of the law,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison. “Today’s sentencing serves as a clear reminder that such threats carry significant, lifelong consequences, including time spent incarcerated, a permanent felony record, the loss of firearm rights, and years of federal supervision. We hope others take note and choose a different path.”

“The sentencing today reminds all of us that threatening violence is not protected speech and the United States Secret Service will continue to aggressively investigate and pursue prosecution on all threats against our protectees and elected public officials.” said Ron Emmot, Resident Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Albuquerque Resident Office.

"The FBI wants to remind the public that we uphold and support every individual’s constitutional right to free speech. Free speech protects ideas and debates, but it does not and will never protect violence," said Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Division. "Threatening speech that is directed toward a specific person or a group of people, whether you believe it to be anonymous or harmless, will be investigated by federal agents and we will hold them accountable."

Leveque pled guilty to making threats against the President and successors to the Presidency. Upon his release from prison, Leveque will be subject to three years of supervised release.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison, Resident Agent in Charge Ron Emmot of the U.S. Secret Service Albuquerque Resident Office, and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The U.S. Secret Service investigated this case with the assistance of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office and the Albuquerque Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case. 

ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni resident has been indicted on federal charges for sexually abusing two individuals over a two-year period.

According to court documents, between May 2017 and October 2019, Kyle Whiteeagle, 42, an enrolled member of the Ho-Chunk Nation in Wisconsin, engaged in and attempted to engage in sexual acts with two different victims.

Whiteeagle is charged with four counts of aggravated sexual abuse and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted, Whiteeagle faces a minimum of 30 years and up to life in prison.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Mondragon is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, 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 Justice.gov/PSC.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

ALBUQUERQUE – A Pojoaque man pleaded guilty to a count of sexually abusing a child over a period of several months.

According to court documents, between December 2021, and February 2022, Alexander John Duran, 31, an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Pojoaque, engaged in a sexual act with a child under the age of 12.

Duran pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact and upon conviction will receive 14 years in federal prison. Upon his release from prison, Duran will be subject to no less than five years of supervised release up to life and must register as a sex offender.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Pueblo of Pojoaque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark A. Probasco is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, 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 Justice.gov/PSC.

ALBUQUERQUE – Pre-trial conditions of release for Justin Aguino were revoked after he violated his terms of release, prompting the FBI to publish a wanted poster that led to his arrest.

Aguino was originally arrested and charged with obstruction of justice and making false statements for using his position as an officer with the Ohkay Owingeh Police Department to impede a federal grand jury investigation by disclosing information about an ongoing investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration to a person outside the investigation. When confronted by FBI special agents in 2022, Aguino falsely stated that he had not shared any information.

On July 6, 2023, Aguino was released on conditions pending trial. On August 22, 2024, the Isleta Tribal Court issued a bench warrant for his failure to appear at a child support hearing. When Pretrial Services attempted to contact Aguino regarding the warrant, officers discovered his phone number was no longer in service, violating his release by failing to report changes in contact information and failing to remain in communication with officers.

On November 25, 2025, the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office offered a reward for information leading to Aguino’s capture. He was arrested on the Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo the following day. On December 1, 2025, Aguino appeared in federal court and was detained pending trial, which was originally scheduled for October 2024, but has not been rescheduled.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

This case was investigated by the Santa Fe office of the Federal Bureau Investigation with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Region III Drug Enforcement Task Force. Criminal Chief Niki Tapia-Brito is prosecuting the case.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

ALBUQUERQUE – A Dulce man was sentenced to 84 months in prison for assaulting a woman by strangulation.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court records, between April 7 and April 8, 2024, Kayiliab Haines, 34, an enrolled member of the Jicarilla Apache Indian Tribe, assaulted Jane Doe by strangling her.

Haines pled guilty to assault by strangulation. Upon his release from prison, Haines will be subject to three years of supervised release.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today.

The Jicarilla Apache Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meg Tomlinson prosecuted the case.

ALBUQUERQUE – A Dulce man has been indicted on federal charges as a habitual offender for allegedly strangling and suffocating a woman.

According to court documents, on April 3, 2025, Tyler Vigil, 32, an enrolled member of the Jicarilla Apache Indian Tribe, assaulted Jane Doe by strangling and suffocating her. Vigil has at least two prior convictions in Indian tribal court for assault, making him a habitual offender.

Vigil is charged with assault by a habitual offender and assault and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted, Vigil faces up to 10 years in prison.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Jicarilla Apache Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael R. Pahl is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

ALBUQUERQUE – Today, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico announced its immigration enforcement statistics for this week. These cases are prosecuted in partnership with the El Paso Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, along with Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, and assistance from other federal, state, and county agencies.

In the three-day period ending November 26, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office brought the following criminal charges in New Mexico:

• 29 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326)
• 6 individuals were charged this week with Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324)
• 54 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325)
• 4 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325), violation of a military security regulation (50 U.S.C. 797) and Entering Military, Naval, or Coast Guard Property (18 U.S.C. 1382), arising from the newly established National Defense Area in New Mexico.

Many of the defendants charged pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1326 had prior criminal convictions for drug trafficking and domestic violence.

These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

These statistics represent prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico only. The numbers do not include individuals apprehended by immigration enforcement officials and subjected solely to administrative process.

Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the District of New Mexico. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.

The District of New Mexico consists of 33 counties and shares 180 miles of international border with Mexico.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys from Albuquerque and Las Cruces work directly with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to prosecute immigration-related and other federal offenses.

ALBUQUERQUE – A serial rapist who terrorized women in Albuquerque between 2017 and 2018, was sentenced to life in prison.

There is no parole in the federal system.  As a result, a sentence of lifetime incarceration is served without parole.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, beginning in 2017, Timothy Bachicha, 43, abducted at least four women, holding them captive for hours while repeatedly strangling and sexually assaulting them. These assaults occurred in October 2017, April 2018, September 2018, and October 2018.

During these attacks, Bachicha forced the victims to perform sexual acts and strangled them to the point of unconsciousness multiple times. Bachicha held and assaulted the women for lengthy periods of time, ranging from 4 hours up to 20 hours. At the time of the assaults in September and October 2018, Bachicha was on state pretrial release and wearing an ankle monitor. Investigators confirmed his presence at the last two crime scenes through GPS data from his ankle monitor. In addition to this data, the evidence against Bachicha included surveillance footage and physical evidence, including DNA.

A federal grand jury first issued an indictment against Bachicha on July 25, 2019, charging the violation from October 2018. Then, on January 29, 2020, a federal grand jury added Count 2, which covered the violation from September 2018.

Trial was held from December 11-15, 2023. According to evidence presented at trial and other publicly available court records, on October 30, 2018, Bachicha forcibly abducted Jane Doe 1, pulling her into his vehicle by her neck. Once in the vehicle, Bachicha drove to a dirt lot near the UNM Cancer Center just east of Interstate 25. There, Bachicha held Jane Doe 1 for 20 hours while he strangled and sexually assaulted her. He released her the early afternoon of October 31, 2018, after receiving alerts that the battery on his court-ordered GPS monitor was dying.

Following news coverage of this crime, Jane Doe 2 came forward to disclose that, weeks earlier, she had been held for 16 hours by Bachicha in a semi-truck in Albuquerque near Interstate 25 and Comanche Road. During the attack, Bachicha strangled Jane Doe 2 and sexually assaulted her. Bachicha’s GPS monitor confirmed his presence at the location and time described by Jane Doe 2.

Both women fought Bachicha during their attacks, and both testified against him in trial. The jury also heard from two other women who suffered similar attacks by Bachicha in October 2017 and April 2018.

On December 15, 2023, after two and a half hours of deliberation, a federal jury convicted Bachicha of two counts of kidnapping with intent to commit a sexual assault, following detailed testimony from four of the victims, describing how he abducted, strangled, and sexually assaulted them over prolonged periods, leaving them physically injured and traumatized. At sentencing, Bachicha faced up to two life sentences, with no mandatory statutory minimum.  The court sentenced Bachicha to a life sentence for each of the two kidnapping convictions, to run concurrently with one another, for a total sentence of lifetime incarceration.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office adopted and continued the investigation of this case following extensive investigation by the Albuquerque Police Department, with assistance from the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office and the New Mexico State Probation and Parole Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah J. Mease prosecuted the case. 

ALBUQUERQUE – Three individuals have been indicted on federal charges related to the murder of Zachariah Juwaun Shorty that occurred in Nenahnezad, New Mexico, on July 21, 2020.

Zachariah Shorty was found deceased on July 25, 2020, on a dirt pathway in a field in Nenahnezad, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation. Mr. Shorty had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. The case remained unsolved for years before Special Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation made a recent breakthrough.

According to court documents, Austin Begay, 31, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, used a semiautomatic pistol to shoot and kill Mr. Shorty, also an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, with malice aforethought and premeditation. Begay is charged with first-degree murder in Indian Country. Jaymes Fage, 38, another enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, is alleged to have aided and abetted the crime. Begay is also charged with knowingly using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and discharging that firearm, thereby causing Mr. Shorty’s death.

Begay, Fage, and Joshua Watkins, 40, are additionally charged with crimes related to concealing the murder.  All three are charged with misprision of a felony in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 4. That statute makes it a federal crime to have knowledge of a federal felony that has been committed but fail to report the crime to authorities as soon as possible. Fage and Begay are charged with making materially false statements to federal investigators on December 21, 2021, regarding the events that occurred on July 21, 2020. Fage is further charged with being an accessory after the fact. It is alleged that Fage attempted to help conceal the murder when he lied to investigators.

“The MMIP Regional Outreach Program was created to ensure that cases like Zachariah Shorty’s never fade into the background and to show the impact that focused federal attention can have,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison. “By strengthening coordination among federal, Tribal, and local partners, the program continues to enhance our ability to address unresolved violent crime in Indian Country.”

"Operation Not Forgotten deployed additional resources to New Mexico’s Indian Country, bolstering the dedicated agents and analysts striving each day to advance these cases toward resolution,” said Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Division. "Together with our local and tribal partners, we are committed to confronting crime and safeguarding the community.”

If convicted, Begay and Fage face a maximum of life in prison. Watkins faces up to three years in prison. Begay and Fage will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Navajo Police Department, Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations and Farmington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eliot Neal and Aaron O. Jordan are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, which aims to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people through the resolution of MMIP cases and communication, coordination, and collaboration with federal, Tribal, state, and local partners.  The Department views this work as a priority for its law enforcement components.  Through the MMIP Regional Outreach Program, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify MMIP cases and issues in Tribal communities and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. This prosecution upholds the Department’s mission to the unwavering pursuit of justice on behalf of Indigenous victims and their families. 

This case was brought forth through Operation Not Forgotten, an FBI established operation that focuses resources on seeking justice for Tribal community members who have been victims of unresolved crimes. The goal of Operation Not Forgotten is to move cases closer to resolution, provide services for victims, and to bring offenders to justice, who had so far escaped it. The FBI has partnered with the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Missing and Murdered Unit to surge resources including FBI special agents, intelligence analysts, staff operations specialists, and victim specialists as well as BIA intelligence and investigative support.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law

ALBUQUERQUE – Today, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico announced its immigration enforcement statistics for this week. These cases are prosecuted in partnership with the El Paso Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, along with Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, and assistance from other federal, state, and county agencies.

In the one-week period ending November 21, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office brought the following criminal charges in New Mexico:

• 50 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326)
• 2 individuals were charged this week with Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324)
• 45 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325)
• 55 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325), violation of a military security regulation (50 U.S.C. 797) and Entering Military, Naval, or Coast Guard Property (18 U.S.C. 1382), arising from the newly established National Defense Area in New Mexico.

Many of the defendants charged pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1326 had prior criminal convictions for child abuse, disorderly conduct, and prior immigration offenses.

These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

These statistics represent prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico only. The numbers do not include individuals apprehended by immigration enforcement officials and subjected solely to administrative process.

Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the District of New Mexico. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.

The District of New Mexico consists of 33 counties and shares 180 miles of international border with Mexico.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys from Albuquerque and Las Cruces work directly with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to prosecute immigration-related and other federal offenses.

ALBUQUERQUE – A Ramah man pleaded guilty to firing multiple rifle shots into a vehicle occupied by three people after a near-collision.

According to court documents, on March 18, 2025, a vehicle driven by John Doe swerved to avoid a collision with a blue Jeep driven by Leon Garcia, 42, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. After the near-miss, John Doe followed Garcia to a residence on the Ramah Navajo Reservation in Cibola County. When the vehicles stopped, Garcia exited his Jeep armed with a rifle, brandished and pointed the firearm at John Doe, Jane Doe 1, and Jane Doe 2, and fired multiple shots into the vehicle with intent to do bodily harm. Garcia continued shooting as the victims attempted to turn around and again as they drove away.

Garcia pleaded guilty to three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. At sentencing, Garcia faces not less than seven years and up to life in prison. Upon his release from prison, Garcia will be subject to five years of supervised release.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Ramah-Navajo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan is prosecuting the case.

ALBUQUERQUE – A Pinehill man has been indicted on federal charges for sexually abusing two minors over a seven-year period.

According to court documents, between February 2017, and February 2023, TJ James, 41, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, engaged in sexual acts with two minor victims.

James is charged with four counts of sexual abuse, one count of abusive sexual contact and two counts of aggravated sexual abuse and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted, James faces no less than 30 years and up to life in prison.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Ramah-Navajo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Mondragon is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, 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 Justice.gov/PSC.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

ALBUQUERQUE – A Pinedale woman has been indicted on federal charges for allegedly shooting and killing a man.

According to court documents, on June 30, 2025, Mabelene Grey, 45, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, intentionally shot and killed John Doe.

Grey is charged with second degree murder and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and will remain on conditions of release until trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted, Grey faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Mondragon is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

ALBUQUERQUE – A Gallup man has been indicted on federal charges for allegedly killing another person while driving recklessly.

According to court documents, on August 11, 2024, Justin Othermedicine, 22, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, killed John Doe while operating a motor vehicle with reckless disregard for life.

Othermedicine is charged with involuntary manslaughter and will remain on conditions of release pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted, Othermedicine faces up to eight years in prison.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today.

The Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations investigated this case with assistance from the Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office and New Mexico State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael R. Pahl is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

ALBUQUERQUE – A federal jury returned guilty verdicts against Zebadiah Romero, 37,  on all charges for the October 2023 premediated murder of a Taos Pueblo man with a single gunshot to the back of his head. The verdict came after a weeklong trial and less than a day of deliberation.

According to evidence presented at trial, on October 30, 2023, Romero, a non Indian, shot and killed John Doe, an enrolled member of the Taos Pueblo, inside John Doe’s residence on the Taos Pueblo. Romero had been evicted and banned from the Taos Pueblo prior to the murder. John Doe was discovered on November 4, 2023, after Taos Pueblo Department of Public Safety officers conducted a welfare check and observed a blood trail leading from John Doe’s bedroom out the front door of the home. Officers later located John Doe’s body inside an adjacent abandoned and locked structure on the property, wrapped in bedding, covered with a tarp, and concealed by other items. The Office of the Medical Investigator determined that John Doe died from a single gunshot wound to the back of the head.

At trial, the United States presented multiple pieces of evidence implicating Romero, including surveillance footage, witness testimony, and forensic evidence showing that Romero was with John Doe early on the morning of October 30 and was later seen driving John Doe’s truck and in possession of John Doe’s young dog after John Doe disappeared. Surveillance video placed Romero driving John Doe’s truck in both Taos and Albuquerque within hours of the killing and while disposing of evidence. Evidence also established that Romero returned to the property after the killing, moved John Doe’s body, and concealed it in the adjacent structure.

Jurors further heard recordings of interviews Romero provided to the FBI after he was arrested in February 2024. In those interviews, Romero gave shifting and inconsistent accounts of the events inside the home but ultimately acknowledged shooting John Doe and described removing evidence from the scene, including the spent bullet casing and the firearm. Trial evidence also showed that Romero, a previously convicted felon, unlawfully possessed that firearm and later disposed of it. Romero admitted to stealing and later disposing of Doe’s truck. 

The jury found Romero guilty of first-degree murder, using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and larceny of the victim’s truck. Romero will remain in custody pending sentencing. He faces mandatory life in prison.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Taos Pueblo Department of Public Safety and the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jesse E. Pecoraro and Mark A. Probasco are prosecuting the case. 

ALBUQUERQUE – A Counselor man was charged in connection with the death of a 4-year-old child.

According to court documents, on November 7, 2025, Randall Pablo, 36, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, fatally injured his 4-year-old nephew. Emergency responders were called after the child was found unresponsive, and attempts at resuscitation were unsuccessful. A preliminary autopsy indicated John Doe suffered significant blunt force trauma to the head and multiple contusions consistent with a violent attack.

Pablo is charged with abandonment and abuse of a child resulting in death and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, Pablo faces life in prison.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Marshall is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni man was sentenced to 72 months prison for voluntary manslaughter.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court records, on February 4, 2023, Joey Luarkie, 25, an enrolled member of the Zuni pueblo, Luarkie stabbed John Doe in the neck during an argument at a residence on the Zuni Pueblo. John Doe was found outside the residence by responding officers and died the next day after being transported to the hospital and undergoing emergency surgeries.

Luarkie pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter. Upon his release from prison, Luarkie will be subject to one year of supervised release.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.

This press release was posted November 14, after the end of the federal government shutdown.

ALBUQUERQUE – Today, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico announced its immigration enforcement statistics for the period of September 29 through November 14, which encompasses the duration of the federal government shutdown. These cases are prosecuted in partnership with the El Paso Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, along with Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, with assistance from other federal, state, and county agencies.

In the seven-week period, the United States Attorney’s Office brought the following criminal charges in New Mexico:

• 329 individuals were charged with Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326)
• 38 individuals were charged with Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324)
• 240 individuals were charged with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325)
• 340 individuals were charged with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325), violation of a military security regulation (50 U.S.C. 797) and Entering Military, Naval, or Coast Guard Property (18 U.S.C. 1382), arising from the newly established National Defense Area in New Mexico.

Many of the defendants charged pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1326 had prior criminal convictions for drug trafficking, child sexual abuse, aggravated kidnapping, DUI, aggravated assault, conspiracy to defraud the United States, larceny, alien smuggling, burglary, participation in organized criminal activity, child endangerment, and prior immigration offenses.

These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

These statistics represent prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico only. The numbers do not include individuals apprehended by immigration enforcement officials and subjected solely to administrative process.

Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the District of New Mexico. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.

The District of New Mexico consists of 33 counties and shares 180 miles of international border with Mexico.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys from Albuquerque and Las Cruces work directly with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to prosecute immigration-related and other federal offenses.

ALBUQUERQUE – A previously convicted felon is facing federal weapons charges following four separate shooting incidents on the Navajo Nation over a 14-month period.

According to court documents, between July 2024 and September 2025, Cisco Whitehorse, 43, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was involved in four separate shooting incidents on the Navajo Nation. First, in July 2024, Whitehorse shot at John Doe 1 from his car as the victim drove by, hitting him three times. John Doe 1 did not report the shooting at the time because he hoped that Whitehorse would leave him alone. When questioned later, Whitehorse admitted to shooting at John Doe 1.

In August 2024, Whitehorse allegedly shot at John Doe 2 from his house as the victim was driving by. When questioned later, Whitehorse denied shooting John Doe 2, however, law enforcement officers located multiple spent shell casings in his driveway.

In August 2025, Whitehorse allegedly again opened fire from his house on a vehicle John Doe 1 was driving. Fortunately, no one was struck.

Finally, in September 2025, Whitehorse fired several shots from his vehicle in the area of a local government building before fleeing at a high rate of speed.

On October 24, 2025, the FBI executed a search warrant at Whitehorse's residence. During the search, three firearms and ammunition were located. As a previously convicted felon, Whitehorse is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.

Whitehorse is charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, Whitehorse faces 15 years in prison.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Mondragon is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This press release was posted November 14, after the end of the federal government shutdown.

ALBUQUERQUE – A Texas man has been indicted on federal charges for allegedly defrauding the government by obtaining COVID-19 pandemic-related unemployment benefits through false claims.

According to court documents, Mark A. Long, 46, knowingly used the personal information of other individuals, including some who were incarcerated, to file fraudulent applications for federally funded Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and related unemployment benefits through the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions and other state agencies between July 2020 and February 2021. Long allegedly caused approximately $420,000 in benefits to be issued, including roughly $160,000 from New Mexico.

Long is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit fraud, nine counts of wire fraud, eight counts of mail fraud, and 11 counts of theft of government property. If convicted, Long faces up to 30 years in prison, significant fines and potential forfeiture of property derived from the alleged offenses.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The FBI Albuquerque Field Office and Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General investigated this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This press release was posted November 14, after the end of the federal government shutdown.

ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock woman admitted to assaulting and stabbing another woman.

According to court documents, on November 21, 2024, Angelia Garcia, 35, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, repeatedly stabbed Jane Doe with the intent to cause bodily harm.

Garcia pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. At sentencing, Garcia faces up to ten years in prison. Upon her release from prison, Garcia will be subject to three years of supervised release.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Department of Investigation and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Pahl is prosecuting the case.

This press release was posted November 14, after the end of the federal government shutdown.

ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man has been charged in federal court with sexually assaulting a minor.

According to court documents, on the night of October 31, 2025, and into the early morning hours of November 1, 2025, Tyrel Westley Johnson, 31, allegedly engaged in a sexual act with a minor who is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation.

Johnson is charged with engaging in a sexual act with an incapacitated person and sexual abuse of a minor. He will remain in custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted, Johnson faces up to life in prison.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Marshall is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This press release was posted November 14, after the end of the federal government shutdown.

ALBUQUERQUE – A Roswell man was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to methamphetamine trafficking and weapons charges stemming from a July 2023 raid on his Roswell home.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, on July 13, 2023, officers from the Roswell Police Department executed a search warrant at the residence of Daniel Johnny Fuentes, 35. In Fuentes’ bedroom, officers located nine firearms and 997.39 net grams of pure methamphetamine. At the time, Fuentes was on supervised release following a four year prison sentence for a 2016 drug trafficking conviction. As a previously convicted felon, Fuentes was prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition.

Fuentes pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Upon his release from prison, Fuentes will be subject to five years of supervised release.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Shawn Stallo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement today.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with significant assistance from the Roswell Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Devon Aragon Martinez prosecuted the case.

This press release was posted November 13, after the end of the federal government shutdown.

ALBUQUERQUE – A Newcomb man has been charged in federal court with sexually assaulting a minor.

According to court documents, between July and August 2025, Raymond Lapahie, 18, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, allegedly engaged in multiple sexual acts with a minor.

Lapahie is charged with two counts of aggravated sexual abuse by use of force and one count of abusive sexual contact. He will remain in custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted of all charges, Lapahie faces up to life in prison, a minimum of five years of supervised release upon release from prison, and mandatory sex-offender registration.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jesse Pecoraro is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This press release was posted November 14, after the end of the federal government shutdown.

ALBUQUERQUE – A Las Cruces teenager has been charged with illegally receiving a firearm while under indictment following an investigation that linked him to a handgun through social media evidence.

According to court documents, on August 31, 2025, Doña Ana County Sheriff's deputies responded to a call involving multiple people with firearms near the intersection of Roe Deer Court and Cous Deer Avenue. Deputies had been searching for a sedan that had dropped off a gunshot victim at a local hospital earlier that day and located the sedan and another vehicle at the scene.

The owner of the second vehicle stated she did not own any firearms and provided written consent to search the vehicle. Inside, detectives recovered a loaded handgun from the back seat, with a round in the chamber and a 17-round capacity magazine. The owner indicated she believed her passenger, Anthony Jacob Lopez, 19, left the firearm in her vehicle.

A subsequent search warrant for Lopez's Instagram account and cell phone revealed multiple photographs and videos of Lopez with the same handgun on various dates. Instagram messages from July 14, 2025, showed an associate offering to sell Lopez the specific handgun for $600, with Lopez confirming the purchase on July 18, 2025, stating "Appreciate dat heater too brudda good ass deal." Cell phone data showed photographs of the firearm taken at Lopez's residence in Las Cruces.

On March 5, 2025, Lopez received a two-year deferred sentence for Smuggling of Persons in Texas and is currently on supervised release. His probation conditions explicitly prohibit him from possessing or transporting any firearms. Under federal law, Lopez is considered under indictment until he successfully completes his deferred sentence. Lopez is charged with receiving a firearm while under indictment. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Las Cruces Police Department and Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Y. Armijo is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This press release was posted November 14, after the end of the federal government shutdown.

ALBUQUERQUE – A Las Cruces man with a lengthy history of retail thefts and assaults was federally charged under the Hobbs Act after the Las Cruces Police Department publicly condemned the state judicial system for failing to prosecute more than 70 offenses allegedly committed by the defendant since 2022.

According to court documents, between November 2022 and April 2025, Neal Wesley Garcia, 43, allegedly committed multiple robberies and assaults at retail stores throughout Las Cruces, New Mexico. Garcia’s offenses involved violence or threats against employees when they attempted to prevent him from leaving stores with unpaid merchandise.

Court documents allege that:

• On November 21, 2022, Garcia stole a Sony backpack from GameStop after pushing an employee who confronted him.
• On April 24, 2023, Garcia assaulted two employees at Lowes Fiesta Foods after attempting to leave with cleaning products without paying.
• On June 30, 2023, Garcia threatened a Savers employee with a stolen baseball bat and broke a window while fleeing with merchandise.
• On July 7, 2023, Garcia punched a Murphy’s Express employee and damaged the employee’s vehicle after shoplifting.
• On August 24, 2023, Garcia struck an Albertson’s worker while taking grocery items without payment.
• On April 5, 2025, Garcia punched a Walmart employee after concealing items in his waistband and attempting to leave without paying.

Each incident involved goods that were manufactured and shipped from outside New Mexico and Garcia’s criminal conduct impacted the stores’ ability to conduct business and thereby affected interstate commerce.

Garcia is charged with six counts of interference with commerce by threats or violence and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, Garcia faces 20 years in prison as to each count.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Las Cruces Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Y. Armijo is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This press release was posted November 14, after the end of the federal government shutdown.

ALBUQUERQUE – A Dulce man was sentenced to 30 months prison for assaulting a man without provocation and causing severe injuries.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, on February 2, 2025, James William Julian, 26, an enrolled member of the Jicarilla Apache Indian Tribe, inserted himself into an argument between two other men and repeatedly punched John Doe in the face, causing severe injuries including a nasal fracture, orbit fracture, a fractured rib and lacerations.

Julian pled guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Upon his release from prison, Julian will be subject to two years of supervised release.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Jicarilla Apache Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meg Tomlinson is prosecuting the case.

This press release was posted November 14, after the end of the federal government shutdown.

ALBUQUERQUE – An Arizona man was arrested after attempting to sell 10,000 fentanyl pills to an undercover agent.

According to court documents, in September 2025, an undercover agent from the Isleta Police Department began communicating with Daron Andrey Holmes, Jr., 35, of Arizona, via Facebook regarding the purchase of 10,000 fentanyl pills. Holmes and the agent agreed to meet at the Isleta Resort and casino on the Isleta Pueblo on the evening of October 29, 2025, to effectuate the sale. When Holmes arrived, he was arrested by a team of agents and officers from the Isleta Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services, U.S. Marshal Service, New Mexico State Police and the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office.

After Holmes was taken into custody, Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office K9 Zara performed an open-air sniff of Holmes’ vehicle and alerted to the presence of the odor of narcotics. Agents and officers conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle. Inside they located a large amount of U.S. currency and approximately 4,102 grams of fentanyl pills.

Holmes is charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, Holmes faces up to life in prison.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Shawn Stallo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso, made the announcement today.

The Homeland Security Investigations El Paso investigated this case with assistance from Isleta Police Department, Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services, U.S. Marshal Service, New Mexico State Police and the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Mysliwiec is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This press release was posted November 14, after the end of the federal government shutdown

ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni man is facing an agreed-upon 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to the federal felonies of assault with a dangerous weapon and using a firearm during a crime of violence and discharging that firearm.

According to court documents, at about 9:50 p.m. on Sunday, February 2, 2025, Cody Laweka, an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Zuni, drove with another person to a home on the Pueblo of Zuni. The person with whom Laweka drove had a shotgun in his truck bed. On the way to this residence, Laweka asked to use this shotgun. When Laweka arrived at the residence, he exited the vehicle with the shotgun and shot at least twice at a car occupied by John Doe. After this shooting, Laweka got back into the truck with the other person and left the scene. No one was hit by Laweka’s gunshots.

At the time Laweka committed these crimes crime, he was on supervised release for committing a prior federal crime. Sentencing in this case is not yet scheduled.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Pueblo of Zuni Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones and Nicholas Marshall are prosecuting this case.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This press release was posted November 13, after the end of the federal government shutdown.

ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni man admitted to stabbing another man without provocation, causing serious injuries

According to court documents, on June 16, 2025, Adrian Cheama, 37, an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, stabbed John Doe in the abdomen with a sharp metal object, causing serious bodily injury to Doe.

Cheama pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. At sentencing, Cheama faces up to 10 years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Cheama will be subject to up to three years of supervised release.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan is prosecuting the case.

This press release was posted November 13, after the end of the federal government shutdown.

ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni man has been indicted on federal charges in connection with the deaths of three individuals on July 4.

According to court documents, on July 4, 2025, Willis Kylestewa, 41, an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, killed John Doe, Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2.

Kylestewa is charged with three counts of second-degree murder and will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted, Kylestewa faces any number of years up to life in prison.

U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Philip Russell of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.

The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department and Zuni Open Space. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas J. Marshall and Amy Mondragon are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This press release was posted November 13, after the end of the federal government shutdown.

ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni man has been charged after he opened fire in a residential area, seriously wounding the victim, then lied to police about his involvement.

According to court documents, on March 20, 2025, Shane Austin Loretto, 31, an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, discharged a shotgun from the front seat of a vehicle, hitting the victim, who was seated in another vehicle across the street, in the face and neck with buckshot. A witness drove the victim to a local hospital where he was treated.

During a subsequent interview, Loretto claimed he had heard about the gunshots but did not know where where they came from. Law enforcement located the shotgun and ammunition in a safe inside a shed adjacent to Loretto's residence.

Loretto is charged with assault resulting in serious bodily injury and will remain in custody pending a detention hearing. If convicted of the current charges, Loretto faces 10 years in prison.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This press release was posted November 13, after the end of the federal government shutdown.

ALBUQUERQUE – Two Las Cruces men have been charged with possession of a firearm in a school zone after being arrested with weapons near an elementary school.

According to court documents, on the night of September 6, 2025, Las Cruces Police Department (LCPD) responded to reports of shots fired at Young Park in Las Cruces, New Mexico. There, officers recovered numerous shell casings from the parking lot.

Shortly after the shooting, police received reports of two males walking through a neighborhood near Hermosa Heights Elementary School carrying firearms. An LCPD sergeant made contact with John Anthony Orta, 24, and Steven Mendoza, 21, directly across from the school. At the time, Orta had a handgun in his waistband and Mendoza was concealing a partially disassembled AR-15 style pistol in his pants. Both men were intoxicated and were initially arrested for Negligent Use of a Deadly Weapon under state law.

During subsequent interviews, Orta admitted carrying the handgun for protection but denied involvement in the shooting. Mendoza acknowledged being at the park and later walking near Hermosa Heights Elementary School with the AR-15 style pistol.

Young Park displays posted signage indicating it is a Safe School Zone where firearms are prohibited. The shooting scene was approximately 540 feet from Lynn Middle School, and the arrest location was approximately 100 feet from Hermosa Heights Elementary School grounds. Ballistic analysis determined the shell casings recovered from Young Park did not match either firearm possessed by Orta or Mendoza.

Orta and Mendoza are charged with possession of a firearm in a school zone. If convicted of the current charges, each faces up to five years in prison.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Las Cruces Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Y. Armijo is prosecuting both cases.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This press release was posted November 13, after the end of the federal government shutdown.

ALBUQUERQUE – A Tohatchi man has been indicted on federal charges in connection with a violent assault.

According to court documents, on June 23, 2025, Jeremy Yazzie, 41, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, assaulted the victim with a knife. As a result of the assault, the victim suffered serious bodily injury.

Yazzie is charged with assault with intent to commit murder, assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury and will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted, Yazzie faces up to life in prison.

Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today.

The Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations investigated this case with assistance from the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This press release was posted November 13, after the end of the federal government shutdown.