Navajo Man Sentenced to 27 Years on Second-Degree Murder Charge

PHOENIX—On April 30, 2012, Wilbert Tsosie, 33, of Red Valley, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Neil V. Wake to 324 months in federal prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Tsosie was found guilty by a federal jury on January 31, 2012, of second-degree murder following a trial that took place from January 23-31, 2012.

Evidence presented at trial showed that on October 6, 2010, Tsosie and the victim, also 33, resided together in Red Valley, Arizona on the Navajo Indian Reservation. After acquiring and consuming alcohol, Tsosie assaulted the victim. The assault included Tsosie stomping on the victim’s head area, causing a serious brain injury which resulted in the victim’s death.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Arizona Department of Public Safety, and the Navajo Department of Law Enforcement. The prosecution was handled by Thomas Simon, Assistant United States Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.