12-17-2024 9:01pm

DOJ New Mexico District Arrests, Pleas and Convictions thru Dec 8th

Chris Edwards Editor

A Brimhall, New Mexico man has been charged with two felony crimes—Assault of a dating partner by strangling and Assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

Victor Badonie, 32, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, appeared before a federal judge and was released with conditions to include home detention and GPS monitoring. Trial in this case has not been scheduled.

According to the indictment, on March 6, 2024, Badonie allegedly assaulted Jane Doe by strangling, suffocating, and attempting to strangle and suffocate her. Badonie also struck Doe, which resulted in serious bodily injury.

If convicted, Badonie faces a maximum of 10 years in prison per felony charge, followed by three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement.

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

A Shiprock woman has been charged with assault with a dangerous weapon following an incident that left another woman hospitalized with multiple stab wounds.

Angelia Garcia, 34, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, appeared before a federal judge and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.

According to the criminal complaint, on November 21, 2024, the Navajo Nation Police Department responded to a call at the Northern Navajo Medical Center regarding a patient with multiple stab wounds. The victim was found with stab wounds to her face, neck, arm, and abdomen.

The victim identified Garcia as the attacker, and Garcia was later located and detained. Garcia initially denied involvement, but eventually admitted to stabbing the victim, claiming self-defense due to the victim “talking shit.”

If convicted, Garcia faces a maximum of 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement.

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 Caitlin L. Dillon is prosecuting the case.

View the Criminal Complaint (Garcia).pdf

A Pine Hill man has been sentenced Pine Hill man has been sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for a fatal stabbing of John Doe in 2023 during a gathering in Shiprock, New Mexico.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, on July 31, 2023, Kirtie Cohoe, 48, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, fatally stabbed John Doe during a gathering at a relative's home in Shiprock, New Mexico. During an altercation in the relative’s kitchen, Cohoe lost self-control and attacked Doe with a knife.

After the incident, Cohoe fled the scene on foot, taking the weapon with him. The Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations (NDCI) and the FBI found John Doe deceased at the home with multiple stab wounds. Cohoe was later apprehended in nearby woods, where he was found with blood on his clothing. The knife was recovered near Cohoe’s wallet, and DNA analysis later linked Cohoe to the knife's handle. Cohoe has admitted to causing John Doe's death.

Upon his release from prison, Cohoe will be subject to three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement.

This case was investigated by the Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau Investigation with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorneys Meg Tomlinson and Mark Probasco are prosecuting the case.

The owner of Cardiel Childcare Services in Las Cruces is charged with attempted enticement of a minor after an investigation revealed alleged systematic sexual abuse of a child under his care.

Juan Jose Cardiel, Sr., 79, appeared before a federal judge and will remain in custody pending a detention hearing, which is scheduled for December 11, 2025.

According to court documents, Cardiel allegedly showed the minor victim naked photos of herself as a baby and toddler, displayed a video of people engaging in sexual acts to the victim, forced the victim to perform sexual acts on him, and inappropriately touched the victim. This is alleged to have occurred on numerous occasions.

The complaint also states that Cardiel was previously arrested by Las Cruces Police Department on May 1, 2024, on state charges of Criminal Sexual Contact with a Minor.

If convicted of the current charge, Cardiel faces not less than 10 years in prison and up to life in prison.

U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Jason T. Stevens, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso, made the announcement.

Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case with assistance from the Las Cruces Police Department and the U.S. Marshals. Assistant United States Attorneys Matilda McCarthy Villalobos and Jackson Dering are prosecuting the case as part of 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.

HSI is seeking other potential victims in this case. Anyone with information is asked to contact HSI at 1-877-4-HSI-TIP (877-447-4847) or online at www.hsi.gov.

A Santo Domingo man has been sentenced to 72 months in federal prison and 15 years of supervised release for sexually assaulting a minor victim after grooming her through social media and gaining unauthorized access to her home on the Navajo Nation.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, Jordian Pacheco, 33, an enrolled member of the Santa Domingo Pueblo, was arrested on January 10, 2021, after the victim's mother discovered him hiding in her daughter's closet. Navajo Police Department officers responded to the call and initially detained Pacheco, who provided false identification.

The investigation revealed that Pacheco had developed a relationship with the 14-year-old victim through TikTok and email over the course of a year. Pacheco, who was 29 years old at the time, did not disclose his true age to the victim.

On January 9, 2021, Pacheco drove to the victim's residence on the Navajo Nation while her mother was away. He then engaged in sexual intercourse and other sexual acts with the minor.

During the investigation, it was uncovered that Pacheco had a history of contacting minors online using usernames such as "youngduke12," "Little Felon," and "Scott Little Felon." He tried to ingratiate himself with minors, requesting photographs and attempting to meet them at local high school sporting events while lying about his age.

Upon his release from prison, Pacheco will be subject to 15 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.

U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement.

The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin L. Dillon 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.