Fort Wingate Man Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison for Federal Assault Conviction

ALBUQUERQUE—This morning in federal court in Albuquerque, Andre Francisco, 24, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Fort Wingate, N.M., was sentenced to a 24-month term of imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release for an assault conviction. While on supervised release, Francisco will be required to participate in a substance abuse treatment program with testing compliance and to refrain from use of alcohol.

U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales said that Francisco was indicted on January 28, 2011, and charged with (1) assault with a dangerous weapon, and (2) assault resulting in serious bodily injury. According to court records, on the afternoon of August 27, 2010, Francisco and his victim, also a Navajo man, became intoxicated and argued over ownership of an alcoholic beverage. The argument ended when Francisco slashed the victim’s face with a 12” steak knife. As a result of Francisco’s assault, the victim sustained a deep cut to the left side of his face that runs from the top of his ear to the left corner of his mouth.

On August 15, 2011, Francisco pled guilty to count two of the indictment, and admitted slashing the victim’s face with a steak knife in August 2010. Francisco was remanded into federal custody after entering his guilty plea.

Pursuant to the terms of the plea agreement, count one was dismissed after Francisco was sentenced.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety, Crownpoint Division, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul H. Spiers.