Acoma man pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter in Indian Country

ALBUQERQUE, N.M. – Anthony Faustine, 41, of Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Acoma, pleaded guilty in federal court on Jan. 26 to involuntary manslaughter in Indian Country. Faustine will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.

Faustine was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 9, 2020. According to the plea agreement, on April 22, 2020, Faustine attempted to evade law enforcement while driving with a blood alcohol level at twice the legal limit. Faustine lost control of the vehicle. As the vehicle rolled, a passenger, identified in court records as John Doe, was ejected and died from injuries sustained in the crash. The incident occurred on the Pueblo of Laguna.

By the terms of the plea agreement, Faustine faces a sentence of five years and 10 months in prison.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case with assistance from the Laguna Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.