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Acebo Gets Life for Riverton Slaying
Francis James Acebo Jr., a 34-year-old man from Arapaho, Wyoming, has been sentenced to life in prison for the first-degree murder of a Riverton resident. The victim, whose name has not been released, was shot in the back of the head on March 25, 2023, at their residence.
Acebo was convicted by a federal jury on February 16, following a five-day trial in Cheyenne. He had been indicted by a grand jury in May 2023 and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
According to evidence presented at trial, Acebo entered the victim’s residence in the early morning hours and shot the victim before fleeing the scene. He later turned himself in to the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office.
U.S. Attorney Nicholas Vassallo praised the successful prosecution of the case, saying, “The successful prosecution of homicides and other violent crimes on the Wind River Indian Reservation is one of our highest priorities.” He credited the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs for their work in investigating the crime.
Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek also praised the sentence, saying, “This sentence demonstrates the FBI’s steadfast commitment to working with our tribal partners to solve MMIP cases and promote public safety on reservations across the country.”
The case was investigated by special agents with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the FBI, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kerry J. Jacobson and Timothy J. Forwood. The case number is 23-CR-00081.
U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on May 16, following Acebo’s conviction. The 34-year-old man will serve a life sentence for first-degree murder and causing death with a firearm, followed by a 10-year term of imprisonment for discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
The successful prosecution of this case is a reminder of the FBI’s commitment to justice on the Wind River Indian Reservation. The agency will continue to work with its tribal partners to investigate and prosecute crimes like this one.
Key Facts
- State: Wyoming
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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