Roman I. Trujillo, 29, a non-Indian man from Albuquerque, N.M., was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison for breaking into two homes in Isleta Pueblo on Jan. 29, 2015. Trujillo forced his way into the residences while his co-defendant, Danielle Bercier, 35, also of Albuquerque, acted as a lookout from outside. The break-ins unfolded in the early hours, with tribal officers responding to urgent calls from terrified residents.
Trujillo was caught fleeing the second burglary in a stolen pickup truck with Bercier as passenger. Officers from the Isleta Pueblo Tribal Police Department gave chase after spotting the suspect vehicle speeding away. The pursuit ended in a crash, bringing both suspects into custody. Evidence showed Trujillo had used the stolen truck to aid his escape—vehicle records confirmed it was reported missing in Valencia County, N.M., on Jan. 28, 2014.
The federal indictment, filed Feb. 25, 2015, charged Trujillo with two counts of burglary of a dwelling, one count of endangering life while driving to evade police, and one count of receiving stolen property. He pleaded guilty on Nov. 18, 2015, admitting he entered both homes by force, stole $1,500 in property from the first, and took two cellphones from the second. He also admitted knowing the truck he drove was stolen.
Danielle Bercier pleaded guilty on March 29, 2016, to one count of burglary, acknowledging her role as a lookout during the $1,500 theft. She was sentenced on Aug. 17, 2016, to three years of probation. Her cooperation and lesser involvement factored into the non-custodial sentence, while Trujillo’s violent entry and flight led to prison time.
The investigation was a joint effort between the Southern Pueblos Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Office of Justice Services and the Isleta Pueblo Tribal Police Department. Jurisdiction in Indian Country hinges on the status of the perpetrator—non-Indians committing crimes on tribal land fall under federal prosecution. The case underscored the persistent challenges tribal police face in combating off-reservation criminals exploiting jurisdictional seams.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle T. Nayback prosecuted the case in federal court. Trujillo will serve one year of supervised release following his prison term. The sentence sends a message: breaking into homes on sovereign tribal land carries serious federal consequences, especially when stolen vehicles and high-speed chases put lives at risk.
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Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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