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COSME LOPEZ
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Cosme.Lopez@usdoj.gov
WWW.JUSTICE.GOV/USAO/AZ
GILA RIVER MAN SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS IN PRISON FOR MURDER
PHOENIX - On Jan. 12, 2015, Christian Kisto Vela, 22, a member of the Gila River Indian Community, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Diane Humetewa to 216 months in prison. Vela pleaded guilty on Oct. 14, 2014, to second degree murder.
On April 12, 2014, the defendant shot the victim to death outside a home in Bapchule, Arizona.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Gila River Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Raynette Logan and Melissa Karlen, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
CASE NUMBER: CR-14-00583-PHX-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2015-04_Vela
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys