Antonio Chaco, who is currently serving a 17-year federal sentence for the 2020 murder of Thomas Brown, has received additional prison time following an assault on a detention officer. The incident occurred on November 5, 2024, at the Cibola County Correctional Center, where Chaco was being held while awaiting trial for the murder case.
Court records state that after a CoreCivic detention officer opened Chaco’s cell door, he attacked her by punching her in the face multiple times. He then attempted to throw her over a second-floor railing before taking her to the ground, straddling her, and strangling her. Medical staff evaluated the officer and noted bruising and swelling on her face; she later sought further medical treatment for pain in her neck, arm, and face.
At the time of this assault, Chaco was in custody pending trial for killing Thomas Brown. In that earlier case, Chaco admitted to beating Brown and leaving him without resources in the To’Hajiilee wilderness. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received his current sentence of 17 years.
For the attack on the detention officer, Chaco has now been sentenced to an additional 46 months in prison. Of this term, 24 months will be served consecutively with his existing sentence—effectively adding two more years to his incarceration.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and United States Marshal David Barnett announced these developments. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary C. Jones and Brittany DuChaussee prosecuted both cases.
There is no parole in the federal system.
