San Felipe Man Sentenced for Sexually Abusing a Minor

ALBUQUERQUE – A San Felipe man was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison for sexually abusing an 11-year-old girl.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court records, on August 1 and August 15 of 2022, Vernon Chavez, 62, an enrolled member of the San Felipe Pueblo, inappropriately touched an 11-year-old girl over her clothing.

Upon his release from prison, Chavez will be subject to 15 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.

U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Jesse Pecoraro prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.