Member of Santo Domingo Pueblo sentenced to three years in prison for assault on federal officers

            ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Stephen Reano, 22, of Santo Domingo, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of Santo Domingo Pueblo, was sentenced in federal court on Feb. 23 to three years and four months in prison, three years of supervised release and 50 hours of community service for an assault on federal officers.

            Reano pleaded guilty on Oct. 30, 2020. In the plea agreement, Reano admitted that on June 11, 2020, he was carrying a rifle in the village area of Santo Domingo Pueblo in Sandoval County. Bureau of Indian Affairs patrol officers, responding to calls about an armed individual, located him standing near a utility pole beneath a street light in the village. Reano pointed his rifle at one officer, then at another officer when the second officer used the patrol unit’s public address system to order Reano to put down his weapon. Reano was shot in the shoulder after repeatedly ignoring the officers’ commands. He was treated for his injuries and remained in custody pending his plea and sentencing. At the time of the incident, both federal officers were engaged in the performance of their official duties.

            The Albuquerque office of the FBI investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer M. Rozzoni is prosecuting the case.