ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Ferrigno Yuselew, 37, of Zuni, New Mexico, pleaded guilty in federal court in Albuquerque yesterday to a charge of assault of an intimate partner by strangling or suffocating.
In Yuselew’s plea agreement, he admitted to committing the offense on the Zuni Pueblo in McKinley County on Dec. 17, 2015. Yuselew put his hands around his wife’s neck and strangled her until she lost consciousness. The couple’s two children were at home during the assault. Yuselew is an enrolled member of Zuni Pueblo.
Yuselew is currently in custody pending sentencing. He faces up to 21 months in prison under the terms of his plea agreement.
The Pueblo of Zuni Tribal Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Jaros is prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
