Gila River Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Murder

PHOENIX – On Jan. 12, 2015, Christian Kisto Vela, 22, a member of the Gila River Indian Community, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane Humetewa to 216 months in prison. Vela pleaded guilty on Oct. 14, 2014, to second degree murder.

On April 12, 2014, the defendant shot the victim to death outside a home in Bapchule, Arizona.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Gila River Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Raynette Logan and Melissa Karlen, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER: CR-14-00583-PHX-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-04_Vela

# # #

For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.