Gallup man sentenced to 25 years in prison for second degree murder
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Darrell Desiderio, 45, of Gallup, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for his role in the second degree murder of a victim.
On June 7, 2018, Desiderio and an accomplice conspired to kidnap the victim and take their truck. The accomplice lured the victim to Desiderio to assist him in acquiring a vehicle. Under the pretense that Desiderio ‘knew some women who would want to ‘party,’ the accomplice and the victim picked up Desiderio and drove north of Gallup to a remote area.
Desiderio ordered the victim to pull over and pressed a knife to the victim’s throat. During a struggle for the keys to the vehicle, Desiderio stabbed the victim. The murder occurred in Mckinley County, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation.
Desiderio pleaded guilty on July 26, 2021 to second degree murder in Indian Country. Upon his release from prison, he will be subject to five years of supervised release.
The Gallup resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Gallup Police Department, McKinley County Sheriff’s Office and the Navajo Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Spindle prosecuted the case.
Criminal Charges: Second degree murder in Indian Country.
Defendant: Darrell Desiderio, 45, of Gallup, New Mexico.
City and State: Gallup, New Mexico.
Date: The murder occurred on June 7, 2018.
Sentence: 25 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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