Michael Lee Moody Sentenced to Federal Prison for His Role in the Murder of Rosenda Strong

Yakima, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced today that Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian sentenced Michael Lee Moody, 44, to 87 months in federal prison on one count of Accessory After the Fact for his role in the October 2018 murder of Rosenda Strong.

According to court documents and evidence presented at the sentencing hearing, Jedidah Iesha Moreno shot and killed Rosenda Strong on or about October 5, 2018, following an argument at a residence, known as the House of Souls in Wapato, Washington. Following the murder, Moreno asked for help disposing of Strong’s body.  A tarp was placed over Strong’ body and Andrew Norris Zack and Jamaal Pimms rolled her body into a freezer.  The freezer, and other appliances, were loaded onto the back of a truck.  The body, still inside the freezer, was then dumped near M&R Towing, which is off Highway 97 in Toppenish, Washington.

The following day, Moreno and Zack traveled to a residence known as the Estrada Ranch located in Wapato, Washington. An argument ensued between Moreno and Zack.  Zack entered a garage to urinate.  Moreno took out a gun and fired multiple shots into the garage.  One of the rounds struck Zack’s hand causing minor damage.  As all of this occurred, Uriel Balentin Badillo was at Legends Casino. Badillo received a call that Zack was in trouble. Badillo drove out to the residence and found Moreno standing in a field. Badillo asked Moreno about Zack but Moreno was unresponsive.  Badillo then drove Moreno to the House of Souls to look for Zack.  Presumably, by this time, Zack had called someone at the House of Souls and told them that Moreno had just shot him.  A female exited the House of Souls and said “gag the bitch up.”  A sock was placed into Moreno’s mouth.  Badillo and the female transported Moreno back to the Estrada Ranch.  After her arrival, Moreno was physically restrained, bound with a cargo strap and duct tape, and forced into a Chevrolet Impala. Badillo shot into the truck several times with a .45 caliber pistol, striking Moreno.  Later that day, a male juvenile and a female juvenile moved the body to another location on the Yakama Nation.  One of the juveniles also fired additional rounds into Moreno’s body.

The following day, Joshawa Max Estrada and the male juvenile located and again moved Moreno’s body – taking it to a more secluded location near White Swan, Washington, in an attempt to conceal the crime. Estrada and Michael Moody attempted to hide the Chevrolet Impala by submerging it in a pond; however, law enforcement later recovered the Impala. Moreno’s body also was later found, when a concerned citizen located Moreno’s remains on November 28, 2018.

On July 4, 2019, approximately nine months after Strong’s tragic death, a citizen discovered human remains, which later were identified through dental records as belonging to Strong.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, and Yakama Nation Tribal Police worked for years to bring to justice those responsible for Rosenda Strong’s tragic death and the subsequent coverup,” stated Acting United States Attorney Barker. “While we could not publicly comment on the investigation while it was ongoing, the Assistant United States Attorneys, FBI agents, and Tribal Police officers were working tirelessly to seek justice for those responsible and obtain some measure of closure for the surviving members of the Strong family. For more than five years, Cissy Strong and the Strong family have been resolute in their pursuit of justice for Rosenda.  I am grateful for the dedication of Assistant United States Attorneys Tom Hanlon and Michael Murphy, who devoted countless hours to seeking justice on behalf of Rosenda and her family.”

“Together with our partners, FBI Seattle is committed to investigating crimes on tribal lands no matter how long it takes,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Seattle. “We know each victim's loss leaves a painful gap in their community and that community wants answers. We hope this case serves as a reminder that even if the investigation takes years, we will never give up on seeking justice for victims and their loved ones.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Yakama Nation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Thomas J. Hanlon and Michael D. Murphy.

Defendants Andrew Norris Zack, Jamaal Antwan Pimms, Kevin Todd Brehm, Joshawa Max Estrada and Uriel Balentin Badillo have all pleaded guilty to charges in this case.

1:23-cr-02037-SAB