Federal Bureau of Investigation - Albuquerque Field Office

06/08/2023 | Press release | Archived content

Jose Trujillo, Co-Defendant of Solomon Peña, Detained Pending Trial

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Jose Louise Trujillo was arraigned on an indictment charging him with: conspiracy, four counts of interference with federally protected activities, four counts of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, possession with intent to distribute 40 grams and more of fentanyl, and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Trujillo, 22, will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.

A federal grand jury indicted Trujillo on May 24 along with Solomon Peña and Demetrio Trujillo. According to the indictment, Peña ran for District 14 of the New Mexico House of Representatives during the November 2022 mid-term elections. Following his electoral defeat in November 2022, Peña allegedly organized the shootings on the homes of two Bernalillo County commissioners and two New Mexico state legislators. The shootings were carried out between Dec. 4, 2022, and Jan. 3, 2023, with assistance from Trujillo.

An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Trujillo faces up to life in prison.

Solomon Peña, 40, is scheduled for arraignment and a detention hearing on June 9. If convicted, Peña faces up to life in prison.

Demetrio Trujillo, 41, is scheduled for arraignment and a detention hearing on June 13. If convicted, Demetrio faces life in prison.

The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the Albuquerque Police Department and the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Senior Litigation Counsel Victor R. Salgado 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.

# # #

23-126