ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that Patrick Tafoya was sentenced on Sept. 13 to six years and six months in prison in prison. Tafoya, 61, of Española, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Santa Clara, pleaded guilty on Jan. 28 to assault with intent to commit murder.
On Sept. 8, 2020, Tafoya drove the victim, identified in court records as Jane Doe, to a bank where he withdrew funds from an ATM to repay money he owed her. Tafoya and Jane Doe began to argue, and he told her to get out of his truck. Tafoya then struck the victim with his truck, pinning her against a utility pole, causing severe injuries. Tafoya fled the scene without calling to request medical assistance for the victim.
The assault, which occurred on the Santa Clara Pueblo, resulted in permanent damage to Jane Doe’s leg that required multiple surgeries.
Upon his release from prison, Tafoya will be subject to three years of supervised release.
The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall prosecuted the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
