Police

FBI: Shiprock Man Sentenced To 8 Years In Prison For Drive-By Shooting Near Shiprock

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Shiprock man was sentenced to 102 months in prison for a drive-by shooting that left a victim seriously injured.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, Jan. 9, 2025, Larence Cambridge, 35, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was a passenger in his own car when he fired multiple shots at another vehicle carrying two victims along U.S. Highway 64 near Shiprock, New Mexico. Cambridge struck the vehicle several times, seriously injuring one occupant, then fled the scene.

Upon his release from prison, Cambridge will be subject to five Read More

FBI: Candidate Who Orchestrated Shootings And Murder-For-Hire After Election Loss Sentenced To 80 Years In Prison

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Solomon Peña was sentenced to 960 months in prison for orchestrating a politically motivated shooting spree and plotting to murder witnesses to obstruct justice.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Solomon Peña, 42, ran for District 14 of the New Mexico House of Representatives during the November 2022 midterm elections. After his electoral defeat, Peña falsely claimed the election was rigged and began pressuring members of the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners not to certify the results.

When they refused, Peña recruited Jose Read More

County Update On Power Outage Knocking Out Electricity To 900+ Customers Today In White Rock

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The pole that held the cable that was snagged this morning was left leaning after power was restored to White Rock electric customers. Courtesy/LAC

DPU’s Electric Distribution crews followed up on power restoration by straightening the power pole. Courtesy/LAC

COUNTY News:

This morning’s, Aug. 14, power outage in White Rock knocked out electricity for more than 900 customers around 8:30 a.m. and was resolved an hour later.

The outage started when a delivery truck snagged a line on a power pole near Piñon School. While it was initially believed to be a power line that was snagged, Deputy Utility Read More

FBI: Doña Ana Man Sentenced To 96 Months In Prison For Fentanyl Trafficking And Illegal Firearm Possession

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A previously convicted felon was sentenced to 96 months in prison after agents recovered fentanyl and a stolen firearm during an attempted arrest in Las Cruces.

According to court records, on May 21, 2024, FBI task force officers and Las Cruces/Dona Ana County Metro Narcotics agents attempted to stop a vehicle associated with an ongoing investigation into fentanyl trafficking. The driver, later identified as Jaime Lopez, 35, fled at a high rate of speed, and officers did not pursue due to public safety concerns. Agents later determined the vehicle had recently been Read More

Governor Declares A State Of Emergency In Rio Arriba County, Española, And Area Pueblos Due To Crime 

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From the Office of the Governor:

SANTA FE – Today, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency in Rio Arriba County, the city of Española, and area Pueblos at the request of those governments in response to a significant surge in violent crime, drug trafficking, and public safety threats that have overwhelmed local resources. 

 The emergency declaration comes as police calls in Española and surrounding areas have more than doubled in the past two years. Police dispatches to businesses in the area have quadrupled in the same period. Rio Arriba County currently has the Read More

FBI: Las Cruces Man Sentenced To Over 10 Years For Role In Fentanyl Trafficking Operation

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Las Cruces man was sentenced to 123 months in prison following an investigation into a fentanyl trafficking operation in southern New Mexico.

According to court records, since early 2024, the FBI’s Southern New Mexico Safe Streets Gang Task Force, together with Las Cruces/Dona Ana County Metro Narcotics and the Las Cruces Police Department, have been investigating a drug trafficking organization distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine in and around Las Cruces, New Mexico. The investigation identified Orangie Lee Fisher, 37, as a key participant in the operation. Read More

FBI: Dulce Man Pleads Guilty To Assault

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Dulce man pleaded guilty to assaulting a man and causing severe injuries.

According to court records, Feb. 2, 2025, James William Julian, 25, an enrolled member of the Jicarilla Apache Indian Tribe, assaulted John Doe by repeatedly punching him the face. As a result of the assault, John Doe suffered serious bodily injury.

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

FBI: Arizona Man Gets 30 Years For $24 Million Ponzi Scheme With Many Victims In Northern New Mexico

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The bullion seized in November 2021. Courtesy/FBI

FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — An Arizona man was sentenced to 30 years in prison and ordered to pay $24,065,636.20 in forfeiture following his conviction for orchestrating a Ponzi-style investment fraud scheme that defrauded more than 100 victims, many of whom were Northern New Mexican residents, out of millions of dollars. A restitution order remains pending.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial and sentencing, from 2014 to 2022, John Lopez, 74, solicited investments through his Read More

FBI: Assault Charges Filed Against Shiprock Man

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Shiprock man is facing federal charges for a violent assault that left two people seriously injured.

According to court documents, on Aug. 5, 2025, Joshua Black, 20, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, became violent during an argument at the home. Black assaulted another man by slamming his head into a fireplace and striking him repeatedly with a shovel and a wooden board.

The man sustained life-threatening head injuries and was later airlifted to a local hospital. During the same incident, Black also assaulted a woman, kicking her and taking her mobility aids, Read More

Law Enforcement Task Force Arrests Armed Drug Trafficker Who Targeted Juveniles

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DPS News:

SANTA FE — A joint law enforcement operation removed an alleged armed drug dealer off the streets after investigators said he used social media to sell firearms and narcotics, including to at least one juvenile.

“We will not tolerate criminals who peddle deadly drugs and illegal firearms in our communities—especially when they target our children,” Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said. “This arrest reflects our commitment to using every resource at the state’s disposal, including the Organized Crime Commission, to dismantle these dangerous networks and keep New Mexicans safe.” Read More