Defendant Pleads Guilty to Murder-for-Hire and Obstruction of Justice

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – In a shocking turn of events, Jacob Grijalva, a 30-year-old man from Silver City, New Mexico, has pleaded guilty to using a cellular telephone in the commission of murder-for-hire and obstruction of justice.

On March 2, 2019, Grijalva attempted to arrange a murder-for-hire by telephone from Grant County, New Mexico. He called a person he believed was a hitman, but the person was actually an undercover federal agent. Grijalva told the agent, ‘I just need a problem taken care of quick, simple, nothing to trace back to me.’ He asked about a price for the murder and offered to pay in cash. Grijalva stated he wanted to kill the victim to avoid prosecution for a gun charge. He also told the undercover agent he wanted the murder to happen when he was in Las Vegas so that he would have an alibi for the crime.

Furthermore, on December 2, 2019, after Grijalva was arrested for murder-for-hire, and while in custody, he solicited somebody else to burn a phone in a grill because he wanted to use photographs of the burned phone at trial, as evidence of his lack of intent to go through with the murder.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Grijalva faces nine years in custody. He is currently in custody awaiting sentencing.

The investigation into this case was a collaborative effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, the Silver City Police Department, and the Grant County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Mark A. Saltman and Taylor Hartstein of the Las Cruces Branch Office are prosecuting this case.

Grijalva’s actions are a stark reminder of the dangers of violence and the importance of holding those responsible accountable. As we continue to investigate and prosecute cases like this, we hope to bring justice to the victims and their families.

The case is a stark reminder that those who think they can use violence to get what they want will be held accountable.

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