ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Byron Rosetta, 35, of Albuquerque, N.M., made an
initial appearance today in federal court in Albuquerque on a criminal
complaint charging him with assault with a dangerous weapon and discharging a
firearm in the commission of a violent crime in Indian Country.
According
to the criminal complaint, Rosetta, an Indian, allegedly committed the offense
on the Kewa Pueblo (formerly known as the Santo Domingo Pueblo) in Sandoval
County on April 5. The incident happened
on State Road 22 near mile marker 2.5.
Rosetta was driving a dark sedan when he passed and shot at a passing
vehicle, narrowly missing the unsuspecting driver. Rosetta used a shotgun and
shot birdshot pellets into the driver’s vehicle. The pellets damaged the vehicle coming very
close to injuring the driver.
The
criminal complaint also alleges that between February 3 and April 4 Rosetta
shot at several other drivers near I-25 from his vehicle and from the
roadside. Rosetta used various firearms,
including a .38 caliber pistol. Several
victims suffered injuries and damage to their windshields and other parts of
their vehicles.
The New
Mexico State Police and FBI identified Rosetta as a primary suspect, conducted
surveillance, and the FBI arrested him in Albuquerque on April 11. Rosetta is currently in custody pending a
detention hearing. He faces up to 10
years in prison if convicted of assault.
He faces a consecutive sentence from 10 years to life in prison if
convicted of discharging a firearm. A
criminal complaints is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent
unless and until proven guilty.
The
Albuquerque office of the FBI investigated this case with assistance from the
New Mexico State Police, the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of
Indian Affairs, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Cowen is
prosecuting the case.
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