Isleta Pueblo Man Sentenced to Twenty-Eight Months for Involuntary Manslaughter Conviction

ALBUQUERQUE – James Anzara, 35, a member and resident of Isleta Pueblo, was sentenced late yesterday afternoon to 28 months in years in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for his involuntary manslaughter conviction. 

Anzara was indicted on an involuntary manslaughter charge on Feb. 27, 2013, and was arrested on March 5, 2013.  The indictment charged Anzara with crashing his vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and causing the death of an Isleta Pueblo man who was a passenger in his vehicle.  The crash occurred on April 21, 2012, within Isleta Pueblo lands.  Anzara was prosecuted on tribal charges arising out of the crash in tribal court and served 360 days in tribal custody.  On June 11, 2013, Anzara entered a guilty plea to the indictment.

The federal prison sentence imposed on Anzara is in addition to the 360 days Anzara already spent in tribal custody.

This case was investigated by the Southern Pueblos of the BIA’s Office of Justice Services and Isleta Tribal Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elaine Y. Ramirez.