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Press Release

Acoma Pueblo Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Federal Voluntary Manslaughter and Firearms Conviction

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE – Darius L. James, 41, an enrolled member and resident of Acoma Pueblo, N.M., was sentenced today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to 15 years in prison for his conviction on voluntary manslaughter and firearms charges.  James will be on supervised release for three years after completing his prison sentence.

James was arrested on Aug. 24, 2017, on a criminal complaint charging him with killing an Acoma Pueblo man by shooting him on the Acoma Pueblo Indian Reservation in Cibola County, N.M.  According to the complaint, James found the victim hidden in a bedroom closet in his [James’] residence.  As the victim fled the scene, James followed him into a nearby field and fired several shots, hitting the victim three times and killing him.  At the time, James was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he was a convicted felon. 

On Jan. 11, 2018, James pled guilty to a felony information charging him with voluntary manslaughter and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.  In entering the guilty plea, James admitted that on July 24, 2017, he shot the victim with a rifle.  James acknowledged that he was prohibited from possessing firearms because he was a convicted felon, and agreed to forfeit his firearms and ammunition. 

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI, the Laguna/Acoma Agency of the BIA Office of Justice Services and the Acoma Pueblo Tribal Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall prosecuted the case.

Updated July 2, 2018

Topics
Firearms Offenses
Indian Country Law and Justice