Crownpoint Man Pleads Guilty to Making a False Report to the FBI

ALBUQUERQUE—This morning in federal court, Cody Tsosie, 22, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Crownpoint, New Mexico, pled guilty to a misdemeanor information charging him with making a false report to a law enforcement agency.

U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales said that Tsosie was arrested on March 8, 2012, on an indictment charging him with knowingly making false statements during the course of an investigation being conducted by the FBI.

According to the indictment, on January 29, 2011, Tsosie made false statements to the FBI as to how and when another Navajo man sustained fatal injuries on Highway 491 near Yah-Ta-Hey, New Mexico. The indictment alleged that Tsosie falsely claimed that he came upon the victim on the roadway as he was driving by and that he loaded the victim into back of his truck and sought medical assistance for the victim after observing that he was injured. The indictment further alleged that, when he made the false statements, Tsosie knew that the victim had sustained his fatal injuries by falling out of the back of Tsosie’s truck while Tsosie was driving at a high rate of speed.

During today’s plea hearing, Tsosie admitted that, on January 29, 2011, he intentionally made a report to a law enforcement agency that he knew to be false.

At sentencing, Tsosie faces a maximum penalty of 364 days of imprisonment and a $5,000 fine. Tsosie remains on conditions of release pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled. Under the terms of Tsosie’s plea agreement, the indictment will be dismissed after Tsosie is sentenced.

This case was investigated by the Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle T. Nayback.