ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that Tyler Sando was sentenced on Sept. 28 to three years and five months in prison. Sando, 32, of the Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Jemez, pleaded guilty on May 19 to assault resulting in serious bodily injury in Indian Country and assaulting, resisting or impeding a federal officer involving physical contact.
On Aug. 11, 2020, on the Pueblo of Jemez, Sando got out of his vehicle, approached a victim and proceeded to strike him about the head and face. Sando then returned to his car and left. As a result of Sando’s assault, the victim suffered a subdural hematoma, needed staples to close a laceration on his head that left a scar, suffered daily headaches, and had blurry vision for a period of time.
On Nov. 16, 2020, Sando sped through a COVID checkpoint entering the Jemez Pueblo and crashed his vehicle. Law enforcement pursued Sando as he attempted to run away, and arrested him inside a residence. After Sando’s arrest, a federal officer attempted to interview him. Sando cursed at the officer and spat in his face.
Upon his release from prison, Sando will be subject to three years of supervised release.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Jemez Pueblo Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicholas J. Marshall and Novaline D. Wilson prosecuted the case.
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