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Crime Lands Naschitti Man 30 Years in Prison
A federal judge handed down a 30-year prison sentence to Elias Viola, 32, for his role in kidnapping and murdering a Gallup man in 2021. Viola pleaded guilty to conspiring to kidnap the victim, who was lured to a location under the false pretense of a meeting with Viola’s then-girlfriend, Shannon Etsitty.
According to court records, on September 16, 2021, Viola and Etsitty devised a plan to lure the victim to a location in Gallup. Viola sent a text message from Etsitty’s phone, propositioning the victim, who agreed to meet. Etsitty picked the victim up from their residence and drove them to a location where Viola and a third man attacked the victim, beating them with a baseball bat and stabbing them with a screwdriver.
The group then hid the victim’s body under nearby brush before returning hours later to move the body to a field near Etsitty’s mother’s house. The victim’s body was found on September 23, 2021, after a weeklong community search.
Viola pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnapping on September 18, 2023. Upon his release from prison, he will be subject to five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations, the Gallup Police Department, and the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Jones is prosecuting the case.
Viola’s 30-year prison sentence is a significant blow to the community, which came together to search for the victim after their disappearance. The case serves as a reminder of the dangers of violence and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.
The FBI and its partners worked tirelessly to investigate this case and bring the perpetrators to justice. The successful prosecution of Elias Viola is a testament to their dedication and commitment to keeping our communities safe.
Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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