U.S. Attorney's Office Secures Sentencing for Domestic Violence Case

ALBUQUERQUE – After receiving credit for 13 months previously served in Tribal custody, a Laguna man was sentenced to serve an additional 27 months in prison for two violent assaults against his intimate partner, a member of the Acoma Pueblo in 2019.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, in the first incident on May 30, 2019, Bret Anthony Vallo, 32, a member of the Laguna Pueblo, admitted to approaching the victim from behind during an argument, wrapping his arm around her neck, and strangling her until she lost consciousness.

In a separate incident between July 1 and July 15, 2019, Vallo acknowledged that he escalated another verbal dispute by punching the victim in the face and striking her multiple times with a metal futon leg.

Upon his release from prison, Vallo will be subject to 3 years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez made the announcement today.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case with assistance from the Pueblo of Acoma Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Robert James Booth II is prosecuting the case.

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