Zuni Pueblo Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Manslaughter Charge

ALBUQUERQUE—This morning, Cameron Kalestewa, 20, entered a guilty plea to an information charging him with voluntary manslaughter under a plea agreement with the United States Attorney’s Office. At sentencing, Kalestewa faces a maximum penalty of 15 years of imprisonment to be followed by not more than five years of supervised release. Kalestewa, a member of the Pueblo of Zuni, has been in federal custody since his arrest on December 2, 2010, and remains detained pending his sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.

United States Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales said that, during today’s plea hearing, Kalestewa admitted killing Michael Lalio, a 23-year-old member of the Pueblo of Zuni, during a physical altercation within the boundaries of the Zuni Indian Reservation on November 17, 2010. According to the criminal complaint, shortly after midnight on November 17, 2010, the Zuni Police Department (ZPD) and emergency services responded to a residence in the Pueblo of Zuni after receiving a call reporting a stabbing. The victim, Mr. Lalio, was transported to the local hospital where he was pronounced dead from a stab wound to the upper left chest. Investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and ZPD revealed that Mr. Lalio left the residence at around midnight and returned approximately 10 minutes later bleeding heavily from his torso. Occupants in the residence observed a man running away from the area. On November 23, 2010, Kalestewa was interviewed by the FBI and ZPD and admitted killing Mr. Lalio after Lalio attacked him.

In his plea agreement, Kalestewa admitted killing Mr. Lalio on November 17, 2010 during a physical altercation initiated by Mr. Lalio.

This case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from ZPD, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul Spiers.