Grimy Times has learned that Jose Louise Trujillo, a 22-year-old from New Mexico, has pleaded guilty to a slew of serious federal charges, including conspiracy, interference with federally protected activities, using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, discharging said firearm, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to court records, Trujillo helped his political ally, Solomon Peña, with his campaign for District 14 of the New Mexico House of Representatives during the November 2022 mid-term elections. Trujillo allowed Peña to use his bank account to channel approximately $5,155 to his political campaign.
Following his electoral defeat in November 2022, Peña decided to pressure members of the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners to refuse to certify the results of the election and paid Trujillo to help him. On November 21, 2022, the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners voted to certify the results of the election, prompting Trujillo and Peña to take more drastic action.
On December 11, 2022, Trujillo and Peña drove to the home of an election official and Trujillo fired a gun provided by Peña at the residence. On January 3, 2023, Trujillo and his father, Demetrio Trujillo, and Peña drove to the home of a former candidate whom Peña had chosen to target based on their position and carried out a second shooting.
Following that incident, Trujillo was stopped by a deputy from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office and arrested. At the time, Trujillo was driving Peña’s car. When the car was searched, deputies located the firearms and ammunition that Peña, Trujillo and Trujillo’s father had used to carry out the shooting earlier that day and 893 fentanyl pills.
Trujillo faces up to life in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release and may be ordered to pay fines not to exceed $1,750,000.
Trujillo will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. His father and Peña are currently scheduled to stand trial in June 2024.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the Albuquerque Police Department and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. Trial Attorney Ryan Crosswell of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremy Peña and Patrick E. Cordova for the District of New Mexico are prosecuting the case.
Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Public Corruption|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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