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Press Release

Jemez Pueblo Man Sentenced to Eight Years for Federal Child Sexual Abuse Conviction

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE – Irving Shendo, 59, a member of the Jemez Pueblo, was sentenced yesterday afternoon to eight years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for his aggravated child sexual abuse conviction.  Shendo will be required to register as a sex offender after he completes his prison sentence.

Shendo was arrested in July 2013, based on a criminal complaint alleging that he engaged in a sexual act with a Jemez Pueblo child under the age of 12 years.  According to court filings, Shendo sexually abused the child victim in August 2008 in a residence located on Jemez Pueblo, N.M., but his criminal conduct was first reported to law enforcement authorities in April 2013. 

On June 20, 2014, Shendo admitted that on Aug. 1, 2008, he engaged in a sexual act with the child victim.  He further acknowledged committing the crime in Jemez Pueblo.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI, the Jemez Pueblo Tribal Police Department and the Albuquerque Police Department, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Presiliano A. Torrez.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/.

Updated January 26, 2015