Shiprock Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Sexually Abusing Two Children Over Six-Year Period

ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man was sentenced to 75 months in federal prison for sexually abusing two children under 12 years old in separate incidents spanning 2014 and 2020.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, Roderick Bitsilly, 61, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, admitted to engaging in unlawful sexual contact with Jane Doe 1, a child under 12 years old, between February and August 2014. Bitsilly also pleaded guilty to similar charges involving Jane Doe 2, also under 12, between September 2019 and September 2020.

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

Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Caitlin L. Dillon is prosecuting 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.