⏱ 2 min read
James Smiley Jr., a 56-year-old enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, stormed into a residence in Two Grey Hills, New Mexico, on February 28, 2025, and pointed a gun at three people without provocation. Smiley, who was sentenced to 8.5 years in prison, threatened to kill his victims and fired a shot into the ceiling. The alarming incident occurred within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation.
Smiley pleaded guilty to one count each of assault with a dangerous weapon and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. His sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release, as there is no parole in the federal system.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated the case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan prosecuted the case, which was announced by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office.
Smiley’s sentencing serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of violent crimes, particularly those involving firearms. The collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies and the judicial system have brought a measure of justice to the victims and the community.
Related Federal Cases
- Ruben Cheykaychi, BB Gun Assault with Intent to Harm, New Mexico 2016 · New Mexico
- Twaine M. Willie, Unprovoked Physical Assault, New Mexico 2018 · New Mexico
- Adrian Cheama, Unprovoked Stabbing, New Mexico 2025 · New Mexico
- James Johnson, Murder of Pregnant Woman, Reno NV, 2022 · New Mexico
- Roman I Trujillo, Home Invasion, New Mexico 2015 · New Mexico
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Violent Crime
- Defendant: New Mexico
- Location: NM
- Source: DOJ Press Release
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Violent CrimeViolent CrimeViolent CrimeViolent Crime