Laguna Pueblo Man Jailed for Sexually Abusing Patient

Benjamin Shiosee, 38, a former certified nursing assistant from Laguna Pueblo, N.M., is headed to federal prison after admitting to sexually abusing a vulnerable patient under his care. The crime occurred on Sept. 4, 2015, on tribal land in Cibola County, where Shiosee exploited his position of trust to commit the assault.

Shiosee was sentenced this morning in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque to 36 months in federal prison, followed by a staggering 25 years of supervised release. The sentence underscores the severity of the crime and the federal government’s commitment to prosecuting abuse cases, especially those involving caretakers who betray their responsibilities.

He pleaded guilty on April 21, 2016, to a federal charge of abusive sexual contact. In court, Shiosee admitted to the assault, acknowledging that he victimized a patient within the boundaries of the Laguna Pueblo reservation. The guilty plea came after a criminal complaint was filed on March 1, 2016, setting in motion the federal prosecution.

As part of his sentence, Shiosee will be required to register as a sex offender upon release from prison—a lifelong consequence that will follow him in every community he enters. The registration mandate is standard for convicted sex offenders and serves as a public safeguard, though it offers little comfort to victims of such intimate betrayals.

The investigation was a joint effort between the Albuquerque office of the FBI and the Laguna Pueblo Tribal Police Department, highlighting the critical collaboration between federal and tribal law enforcement in handling crimes on sovereign land. Their work ensured that Shiosee faced justice in the federal system, where such offenses are aggressively pursued.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Spindle handled the prosecution, securing a conviction that reflects both the legal weight of the crime and the vulnerability of the victim. With 25 years of supervision looming, Shiosee’s punishment extends far beyond his prison term—marking a permanent fall from his role as a caregiver to that of a convicted felon.