Navajo Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for First-Degree Murder and Witness Tampering
In a federal court in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Brian Tony, 47, of Gallup, New Mexico, was sentenced to life imprisonment for first-degree murder and witness tampering.
Tony, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was found guilty by a jury on September 30, 2017. The evidence presented at trial established that on May 8, 2016, Tony drove his girlfriend’s Jeep to a home in Gallup with his brother and his girlfriend.
Tony picked up the victim and the victim’s friend from this location and retrieved a hammer from the home. According to the testimony of the victim’s friend, Tony drove them to a place called “Superman Canyon,” where Tony ordered the victim out of the Jeep and led him to an area out of sight from the vehicle.
The victim’s friend heard the victim yell, but stayed in the Jeep because Tony’s brother threatened him. A short time later, the victim called “911” and told the operator he was in a ditch and bleeding. The victim reported that Tony had hit him in the head with a hammer.
The next day, the victim’s body was found in a ravine by Rock Flats Road near Churchrock, New Mexico. The evidence at trial also established that Tony committed witness tampering while awaiting trial at the Santa Fe County Detention Center. Tony made more than 1,000 calls to friends and relatives, imploring them to convince the victim’s friend to leave town and to prevent the friend from testifying.
The jury also heard Tony try to persuade his girlfriend not to cooperate with law enforcement. Tony testified during the trial and claimed that he killed the victim in self-defense. “The life sentence imposed today cannot bring the victim back to his family and friends, but I hope it gives them a measure of comfort and closure,” said U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson.
The evidence presented at trial established that Tony committed the following crimes: First-Degree Murder and Witness Tampering. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney’s Joseph M. Spindle and Nicholas J. Marshall prosecuted the case as part of a federal anti-violence initiative that targets violent, repeat offenders for federal prosecution.
Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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