Hopi Reservation Robbers Sentenced to Prison

PHOENIX – In a shocking display of brazen crime, three men have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a burglary and robbery on the Hopi Indian Reservation in Arizona.

On September 10, 2016, Kaleb June, 24, Jonathan Phillips, 20, and Morgan Black, 20, burglarized a Hopi tribal administration building in Moenkopi, Arizona. The trio then made their way to a nearby convenience store and robbed it at gunpoint.

June, who is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pleaded guilty to robbery and was sentenced to 33 months in prison. Phillips, also an enrolled member of the Hopi Tribe, pleaded guilty to robbery and was sentenced to 36 months in prison. Black, the third co-conspirator, pleaded guilty to burglary and was sentenced to 27 months in prison.

All three men were living in the Moenkopi-Tuba City area at the time of the crimes. The investigation into the burglary and robbery was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services (Hopi Agency).

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Samuels handled the prosecution of the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, praised the efforts of the investigative agencies and prosecutors in securing the convictions.

The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of community policing and cooperation between law enforcement agencies. The Hopi Tribe and the surrounding communities can rest assured that justice has been served in this case.

The sentences handed down to June, Phillips, and Black are a testament to the commitment of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to combating violent crime in Arizona. The office will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that those who commit crimes on Native American reservations are held accountable.

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