Courts

FBI: U.S. Attorney And FBI Announce Federal Charges Against Zuni Man After Armed Standoff Ends In Shooting At Law Enforcement

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Zuni man was charged by criminal complaint following an hours-long armed standoff with law enforcement, during which he fired multiple shots at FBI agents and tribal police officers responding to a domestic disturbance call on the Zuni Pueblo reservation.

Eric Bowannie, 26, an enrolled member of the Zuni Nation, appeared before a federal judge today and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.

According to the criminal complaint, July 6, 2024, a family disturbance in Zuni, New Mexico escalated into a standoff between law enforcement and Read More

FBI: Arizona Man Charged With Transportation For Purposes Of Prostitution Faces Up To 10 Years In Prison

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — An Arizona man was charged by criminal complaint with transportation for the purpose of prostitution after allegedly transporting a female across state lines for the purposes of engaging her in prostitution.

Hakeeme Kaleb Williams, 24, appeared before a federal judge July 10 and will remain on conditions of release pending trial, which has not been scheduled.

According to the criminal complaint, June 17, 2024, Jane Doe 1 called 911 reporting she was being trafficked. Officers located her outside a car at a gas station in Laguna, N.M., along with a man identified as Williams Read More

U.S. Attorney’s Office Secures Guilty Plea In Fatal DUI Case

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE – A Sanostee man has pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of involuntary manslaughter stemming from a fatal drunk-driving crash on the Navajo Nation that killed two people in August 2023.

According to publicly available court documents, on the morning of Aug. 12, 2023, Leonardo Robbie Duncan, 33, was driving on Navajo Route 36 near Upper Fruitland, N.M., which is within the exterior boundaries of the Navajo Nation. Duncan was drunk and driving in an unsafe manner when he crossed into on-coming traffic and crashed head-on into the front passenger side of Jane and Read More

FBI: U.S. Attorney Secures 87 Month Prison Sentence For Violent Attack On Family Home With 8 People Inside

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Fruitland man was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for firing 18 rounds at a family home occupied by eight people, including five young children.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court records, April 28, 2022, Nathaniel Begay, 31, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, drove to a residence within the exterior boundaries of the Navajo Nation after becoming angry while swimming at Morgan Lake. Armed with two semi-automatic handguns, Begay fired multiple rounds at the home, which contained eight family members including five young children. Read More

U.S. Attorney, Albuquerque FBI Charge Third Individual Connected To Violent Day-Long Crime Spree In Gallup

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Little Water man was charged by criminal complaint following a violent crime spree on the Navajo Nation, which involved a series of shootings and murder.

Dewayne George, 22, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, appeared before a federal judge today and will remain on conditions of release pending trial, which has not been scheduled.

According to the criminal complaint, April 24, 2024, a family traveling south on U.S. Highway 491 reported to law enforcement that they had been followed, rear-ended, and shot at by someone sitting in the front passenger seat of a white Read More

FBI: Felon Who Shot New Mexico State Police Lt. Jeremy Vaughan Sentenced To 9 Years In Federal Prison

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Caleb Elledge

FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE – A Los Lunas man who shot a New Mexico State Police (NMSP) officer during a high-speed chase was sentenced to 9 years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to publicly available court records, on Feb. 11, 2022, NMSP Lt. Jeremy Vaughan was on duty at a gas station in Edgewood when he was alerted to a woman in distress. As Lt. Vaughan approached a vehicle containing the woman and Caleb Elledge, 26, of Los Lunas, Elledge fled, ramming the officer’s vehicle.

A pursuit ensued, Read More

New Mexico Seeks Costs And Damages For PFAS Contamination From DOD Under New U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Rule

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NMED News:

The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), New Mexico Office of Natural Resources Trustee (NMONRT) and the New Mexico Attorney General (NMAG) July 8 amended New Mexico’s lawsuit against the United States regarding per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination present in and around military communities across New Mexico.

Notably, the amended lawsuit utilizes a newly finalized U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that went into effect July 8, 2024, that allows the State of New Mexico to recover the costs of clean-up actions and monetary damages for Read More

State Bar Of New Mexico’s Access To Justice Grant Fund Commission Awards Record $1.5 Million

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SBNM News:

ALBUQUERQUE — The Access to Justice Grant Fund Commission, a Commission of the State Bar of New Mexico, awarded just over $1,500,000 in grant funds to 13 civil legal service organizations for the 2024-2025 Fund cycle.

The Commission functions as the financial steward of the New Mexico Supreme Court’s Fund for Access to Justice. These funds are generated from interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTA) and Pro Hac Vice fees.

The Commission awards grants for both new and on-going nonprofit organizations that provide civil legal services to low-income New Mexicans consistent with the Read More

NMSP: Man Arrested In Santa Fe On Eight Criminal Counts Including Domestic Violence, Kidnapping And Battery

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NMSP News:

SANTA FE — New Mexico State Police (NMSP) officers were dispatched June 20, 2024, to the Presbyterian Hospital at 4801 Beckner Road in Santa Fe, for a report of domestic violence and child abuse.

Officers learned that earlier that day, the adult female victim, her boyfriend Carlos Javier Apodaca, 21, and their 2-year-old daughter drove to Albuquerque to visit a family member. While in Albuquerque, Apodaca and the victim got into an argument. While driving Apodaca repeatedly hit the victim and held a box cutter to her neck and torso. Apodaca forced the victim and her daughter to stay Read More

New Mexico Financial Institutions Division Settles With Abra To Return Cryptocurrency Assets

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NMRLD News:

SANTA FE —The Financial Institutions Division of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department has joined 24 other state financial regulatory agencies in taking collective action against Plutus Financial, Inc., Abra Trading, LLC, Plutus Financial Holdings, Inc., Plutus Lending, LLC (collectively known as “Abra”), and CEO and largest equity owner William “Bill” Barhydt for operating a cryptocurrency company without receiving the required state licensing.

A multistate investigation found that Abra operated a mobile application for buying, selling, trading, and Read More