A New Mexico man pleaded guilty this week to his role in shootings that targeted the residences of elected officials following the 2022 election, officials stated.
According to court documents, Solomon Pena recruited Demetrio Trujillo, 42, of Albuquerque, along with his son, Jose Trujillo, to take part in a string of targeted shootings of elected officials’ homes after Pena lost the election for a seat in the New Mexico House of Representatives in November 2022.
Peña allegedly pressured members of the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners to refuse to certify the election results. Still, despite Peña’s alleged pressure, the commissioners certified the election results.
In response, in his plea agreement, Demetrio Trujillo admitted that Peña paid him to drive to the home of an election official on Dec. 4, 2022, and fire a gun at the residence.
Peña then paid Demetrio Trujillo to shoot at the residence of an elected state official who ran for and won reelection in 2022, which Trujillo did on Dec. 8, 2022.
Then, on Jan. 3, 2023, Trujillo, along with his son and Peña, carried out a shooting at the residence of a second-elected state official.
The victims’ residences were targeted because the individuals were election officials and/or former candidates for elective office.
Demetrio Trujillo pleaded guilty to conspiracy, two counts of interference with federally protected activities, one count of using and carrying a firearm during and about a crime of violence, and one count of using and carrying a firearm during and about a crime of violence and discharging said firearm.
Demetrio Trujillo will remain in custody pending sentencing, scheduled for May 1. He faces up to life in prison.
Jose Trujillo plead guilty on Jan. 9 to conspiracy, interference with federally protected activities, using and carrying a firearm during and with a crime of violence, discharging said firearm, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Related charges against Peña remain pending and are scheduled for trial in June.
The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated the case with the Albuquerque Police Department and Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office.
Trial Attorney Ryan Crosswell of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremy Peña and Patrick E. Cordova for the District of New Mexico are prosecuting the case.