Member of Navajo Nation pleads guilty to federal charges of assaulting two victims in Indian Country causing serious bodily injury

           ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  – Matthew Ramone, 32, of Thoreau, New Mexico pleaded guilty in federal court in Albuquerque today to two charges of assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

           In Ramone’s plea agreement, he admitted to committing the offenses on the Navajo Nation in McKinley County on Oct. 16, 2019.  The assault began when Ramone struck one victim in the head with a three-foot metal bar.  When the second victim tried to stop the attack, Ramone hit the second victim with the metal bar two or three times.  Both victims suffered serious bodily injury.  Ramone is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. 

           Ramone is currently in custody pending sentencing.  Under the plea agreement, he faces up to 20 years in prison.   

           The Gallup office of the FBI investigated this case with the the Crownpoint office of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Jaros is prosecuting the case.