Sacaton Man Sentenced to 75 Months in Prison for Aggravated Assault

PHOENIX—Matthew Zepeda, 22, of Sacaton, Ariz., was sentenced yesterday to 75 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Roslyn O. Silver. Zepeda pleaded guilty on March 24, 2009, to aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.

On October 25, 2008, Matthew Zepeda and his two brothers and co-defendants, Damian Zepeda and Jeremy Zepeda, went to a home on the Ak-Chin Indian Reservation. Damian Zepeda was upset because his former girlfriend was going to get a tattoo on her chest. Damian confronted the former girlfriend and hit her on the head with a gun. The tattoo artist came out of the home and Damian Zepeda fired at, and shot him several times in the back. The man suffered gunshots from a shotgun and pistol and was hospitalized.

Matthew Zepeda and brother Jeremy Zepeda were with Damian Zepeda at the time of the shooting. Matthew Zepeda was armed with a shotgun and was at the scene to assist his brother, Damian. Matthew Zepeda was given a lesser sentence for his involvement in this case because he testified at the trial of Damian Zepeda during which Damian was convicted. Damian is pending sentencing for convictions on multiple counts of Aggravated Assault and Discharge of a Firearm.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Ak-Chin Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Sharon Sexton and Brian Kasprzyk, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER: CR-08-1329-PHX-ROS

RELEASE NUMBER: 2009-004(Zepeda)