Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Defendant was on federal supervised release at the time of the offense, following a prior conviction for distributing child sexual abuse material

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

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.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

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.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

ALBUQUERQUE – A Fruitland man pleaded guilty to a federal crime after a fatal car crash involving drugs that resulted in the death of a baby.

According to court documents, on April 3, 2024, Dewayne Earl Blackie, 37, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was driving on a two-lane highway near Shiprock, New Mexico, when he collided with two other cars that were pulled over on the right-hand side of the road. A 16-month-old child was ejected from his vehicle. The child died from blunt-force injuries. After the wreck, methamphetamines and marijuana were found in Blackie’s system.

Blackie pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. At sentencing, Blackie is subject to a prison sentence of up to eight years. Upon his release from prison, Blackie 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 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 Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.

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

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

BOSTON – A Newton man was sentenced on Oct. 8, 2025, in federal court in Boston for illegally possessing two firearms and ammunition.

James Welch, 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise J. Casper to 30 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In June 2025, Welch pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Welch was charged in February 2025.

On Feb. 28, 2025, during a search of Welch’s Newton residence, a pistol and a rifle, as well as ammunition were recovered. Welch is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to multiple prior felony convictions.

The charge of possessing ammunition after being convicted of a felony provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of a $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Leah Foley and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. The Newton Police Department provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric L. Hawkins of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

ALBUQUERQUE – A Morgan Lake man has been charged with assaulting an officer using his vehicle.

According to court documents, on September 28, 2025, officers from the Navajo Nation Police Department responded to a report of a suspected drunk driver. When they arrive in the area, the driver, Kendall Benally, 42, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, refused to obey commands and attempted to flee in his vehicle, striking and injuring an officer and a marked unit in the process. Benally then exited the vehicle and fled on foot and attempted to hide from officers. Benally was found and arrested a short time later.

Benally is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and will remain in custody pending a detention hearing. If convicted of the current charges, Benally faces 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 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 Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack E. Burkhead 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.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

SAVANNAH, GA:  Margaret E. Heap, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, today announced that, through a civil asset forfeiture action, the government has seized and forfeited approximately $1,185,922.91 of cryptocurrency, which was recently liquidated into U.S. currency, as a result of a financial investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office Asset Forfeiture Unit and United States Secret Service (USSS).

“The Asset Forfeiture Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and United States Secret Service worked diligently to locate, seize, and forfeit these funds, and are now working to identify eligible victims who may be compensated with forfeited funds,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “This forfeiture is a testament to the drive and ingenuity of the investigative team, and the partnership between our office and the United States Secret Service.”

The case was opened following a report of a sophisticated fraud attempted against a real estate agent in Richmond Hill, Georgia, near Savannah.  The Secret Service had previously spoken with realtors in the area about fraud targeting the real estate industry and received the report based on their outreach. The investigation exposed a global fraud and money laundering operation and resulted in the disruption of an international criminal organization.  

“With the continued evolution of cryptocurrency fraud, our outreach efforts are crucial to preventing unsuspecting Americans from falling victim to these crimes,” said USSS Savannah Resident Office Agent in Charge James Reno. “It was through these outreach efforts that the fraud in this case was identified, and we remain committed to educating the public and working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring perpetrators of these crimes to justice.”

As set forth in the civil complaint, in April 2023, a real estate agent and resident of Richmond Hill, Georgia, contacted the USSS Savannah Resident Office regarding communication with a person claiming to be a potential home buyer.  The purported home buyer made out to have an extensive financial background with cryptocurrency.  The real estate agent recognized the hallmarks of fraud and contacted the Secret Service.  Using the information the fraudster gave to the real estate agent and the Internet Crime Complaint Center referenced below, the Secret Service identified another real estate agent in North Carolina who had more than $200,000 in cryptocurrency stolen by the same criminal organization.  The North Carolina victim was persuaded to download a cryptocurrency application, which was a fake version of a real cryptocurrency exchange.  The Secret Service traced the cryptocurrency transactions and identified a larger money laundering operation involving more than $100 million laundered over a short period, leading to the United States seizing over $1 million.

In 2024, the property was forfeited through a federal civil forfeiture case in Savannah. The Secret Service is continuing its investigation and is working to identify victims eligible for consideration for compensation with the forfeited funds.  

The Internet Crime Complaint Center, is run by the FBI and serves as the country’s hub for reporting cybercrime.  Visit www.ic3.gov to report a crime, and for updated information and other cyber fraud schemes.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service.  The United States was represented by Senior Litigation Counsel J. Bishop Ravenel.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

ALBUQUERQUE – A Crownpoint man pleaded guilty to federal charges after a fatal crash involving alcohol and prescription opioids.

According to court documents, on July 3, 2024, Joey Martin, 55, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was driving on State Highway 371 in Crownpoint, New Mexico, when he swerved to avoid a semitruck and lost control. His passenger was killed in the crash. After the crash, Martin admitted to taking opioid pain medication an hour or two prior.

Martin pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. At sentencing, Martin is subject to a sentence of up to eight years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Martin will be subject to up to three years to life of supervised release.

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

The Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Pahl is prosecuting the case.

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

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

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.

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

Defendant shared sealed information with a friend who then posted on social media