ALBUQUERQUE - Brian Dyea, 29, an enrolled member of the Laguna Pueblo who resides in Mesita, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to an arson charge under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Dyea was arrested in Dec. 2017, on an indictment charging with him arson. According to the indictment, Dyea committed the crime by setting fire to and burning a building on the Laguna Pueblo in Cibola County, N.M., on June 17, 2016.
During today’s proceedings, Dyea pled guilty to the indictment and admitted that on June 17, 2016, he set fire to his father’s trailer located on the Laguna Pueblo, which caused thousands of dollars worth of damage to the trailer. Dyea further admitted that he set the fire while his father was still inside the trailer, and his father suffered minor smoke inhalation.
At sentencing, Dyea faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. Dyea remains in custody pending a sentencing hearing which has yet to be scheduled.
This case was investigated by the Laguna/Acoma Agency of the BIA Office of Justice Services and the Pueblo of Laguna Tribal Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elisa Dimas.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
