Amber Yazzie, Armed Robbery, New Mexico 2021

ALBUQUERQUE – On December 4, 2021, a brazen armed robbery shook the quiet streets of Gallup, New Mexico. Amber Yazzie and her brother Gregory Yazzie, both armed, stormed into C & R Insurance, demanding cash while brandishing firearms. The shocking act left employees and customers in a state of panic as Amber Yazzie fired a shot into the ceiling.

According to witnesses, the suspects were dressed in dark clothing and fled the scene after collecting over $4,000 from the registers. Surveillance footage revealed the siblings’ roles in the heist, with Amber Yazzie at the center of the chaos.

The robbery had a significant impact on C & R Insurance, forcing the business to close for a week and affecting its operations. The insurance company serves around 60,000 customers across New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado.

Following the incident, law enforcement obtained receipts and video evidence of the suspects’ purchases in Albuquerque, revealing they used stolen funds for shopping.

The Yazzie siblings are not the only ones to face charges. Co-defendants Randy Joe and Chadyne Tohe have pleaded guilty and are pending sentencing.

At sentencing, Gregory Yazzie faces up to life in prison followed by up to five years of supervised release. Meanwhile, Amber Yazzie has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, with no parole in the federal system. Upon her release, she will be subject to three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement. The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety, the Navajo Nation Police Department, the Gallup Police Department, and the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.

Grimy Times investigation revealed the brazen act of armed robbery, highlighting the importance of community vigilance and cooperation with law enforcement in keeping our streets safe.

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