Member of Zuni Pueblo pleads guilty in federal court to strangling and suffocating woman in Indian Country

            ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Ferrigno Yuselew, 37, of Zuni, New Mexico, pleaded guilty in federal court in Albuquerque yesterday to a charge of assault of an intimate partner by strangling or suffocating.

In Yuselew’s plea agreement, he admitted to committing the offense on the Zuni Pueblo in McKinley County on December 17, 2015.  Yuselew put his hands around his wife’s neck and strangled her until she lost consciousness.  The couple’s two children were at home during the assault.   Yuselew is an enrolled member of Zuni Pueblo. 

            Yuselew is currently in custody pending sentencing.  He faces up to 21 months in prison under the terms of his plea agreement. 

            The Pueblo of Zuni Tribal Police Department investigated this case.   Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Jaros is prosecuting the case.