Crownpoint Woman Pleads Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter

ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Ryntana Yazzie pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Yazzie, 34, of Crownpoint, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was placed on conditions of release pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.

According to court documents, on August 4, 2020, Yazzie had been drinking alcohol and was driving south on Highway 371 outside Farmington when her vehicle veered into oncoming traffic and struck a truck driven by John Doe, who was driving northbound. John Doe died as a result of the crash.

At sentencing, Yazzie may face up to 8 years in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.

The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Department of Investigation and Department of Criminal Investigations.  Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.

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