Courts

FBI Albuquerque: California Woman Sentenced For Decades Long Fortune Fraud Scheme

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A California woman was sentenced to 30 months in prison and will be ordered to pay more than $1 million 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 Read More

FBI: Shiprock Man Faces 10 Years For Violent Assault

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FBI News:

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

According to court documents. on Nov. 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 Read More

State Bar Of New Mexico Announces Swearing-In Ceremony For 2026 President Allison H. Block-Chavez Dec. 10

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STATE BAR News:

SANTA FE — The State Bar of New Mexico (“the State Bar”) announces the Swearing-In Ceremony of its next President, Allison H. Block-Chavez, at 4:30 p.m. (MT) Dec. 10, at the New Mexico Supreme Court. Her swearing-in as the next State Bar President marks a significant milestone as the State Bar reaches its 140th anniversary in 2026.

“I am excited for my friend, Allison H. Block-Chavez, as she steps into the role of President of the State Bar of New Mexico,” said Aja N. Brooks, current President of the State Bar. “Allison is a true leader with a genuine heart for service, demonstrated Read More

Albuquerque FBI: Man Gets 96 Months For Assaulting Baby

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FBI News:

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

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, in Oct. 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 Oct. 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 Read More

New Mexico On List Of Democratic-Leaning States Being Sued For Refusal To Comply With Election Integrity Law

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From the Republican Party of New Mexico:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Justice Department announced on Tuesday that it has taken legal action against six Democratic-leaning states—Delaware, Maryland, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and New Mexico—alleging that they broke federal law by refusing to release their full voter registration lists when requested. New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver has outright refused to comply and is now being sued by the DOJ.

“We are not going to have free, fair, or accurate elections if we cannot maintain accurate voter rolls, and it should concern Read More

New Mexico’s Administrative Office Of The Courts’ Innovative Pretrial Messaging System Marks 2nd Year

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COURT News:

SANTA FE — New Mexico’s Judiciary uses a robust text and email reminder messaging system to help ensure people awaiting trial return to court for their future hearings and comply with other pretrial supervision requirements.

The program marked its second anniversary last month.

The messaging system by the Pretrial Justice Program of the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC):

  • Reminds people seven days, three days and one day before scheduled court dates, and one day before office visits and remote check-ins with pretrial supervisors.
  • Notifies individuals when a court hearing
Read More

More Scenes From LAHS Teacher Lori Thompson’s Sports Lit Class Conducting Interviews At Justice Center

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The Honorable Los Alamos County Municipal Court Judge Elizabeth Allen speaks with Los Alamos High School Students from English Teacher Lori Thompson’s Sports Lit class in early November as they interview her in her office at the Justice Center. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com 

Los Alamos High School students from English Teacher Lori Thompson’s Sports Lit class interview the Honorable Los Alamos County Municipal Court Judge Elizabeth Allen in her office recently at the Justice Center. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com 

Los Alamos High School students from English Teacher Read More

FBI: Three Individuals Indicted On Federal Charges Related To 2020 Unsolved Murder Of Zachariah Juwaun Shorty

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FBI News:

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

Shorty was found deceased on July 25, 2020, on a dirt pathway in a field in Nenahnezad on the Navajo Nation. He 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 Shorty, Read More

Los Alamos High School Teacher Lori Thompson’s Sports Lit Class Conducts Interviews At Justice Center

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Los Alamos High School students from English Teacher Lori Thompson’s Sports Lit class interview the Honorable Los Alamos County Municipal Court Judge Elizabeth Allen in her office recently at the Justice Center. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

Los Alamos High School students from English Teacher Lori Thompson’s Sports Lit class interview the Honorable Los Alamos County Magistrate Court Judge Catherine E. Taylor in her courtroom recently at the Justice Center. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

Los Alamos High School students from English Teacher Lori Thompson’s Sports Lit Read More

FBI: Wanted Justin Aguino For Pretrial Release Violation

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FBI News:

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of Justin Aguino.

On Feb. 26, 2020, Justin Aguino allegedly used his position as an officer with the Ohkay Owingeh Police Department in New Mexico, to impede a federal grand jury investigation by disclosing information about an ongoing investigation being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration to an individual outside of the investigation.

Then, on May 24, 2022, while working for the Pojoaque Police Department in New Mexico, Aguino was confronted by Read More