Member of Jicarilla Apache Nation found guilty of domestic assault by a habitual offender in Indian country

           ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Following a two-day trial, a federal jury in Albuquerque returned a guilty verdict on Sept. 22 against Quentin Veneno, Jr., 34, of Dulce, New Mexico, an enrolled member of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, on two counts of Domestic Assault by a Habitual Offender and one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. United States District Judge Kea W. Riggs presided.

           On Aug. 22, 2018, and again on Nov. 2, 2018, Veneno physically abused the victim, whom he was dating at the time, at her residence within the exterior boundaries of the Jicarilla Apache Indian Nation Reservation. Veneno broke nine of the victim’s ribs and caused a collapsed lung and bruising over her body.

           Police records showed that Veneno had previously assaulted the victim, and Veneno’s tribal criminal history includes two prior convictions of domestic violence in 2009 and 2013.

           Veneno was arrested on November 21, 2018, and remains in custody pending sentencing, which has yet to be scheduled. He faces a maximum of 25 years in prison.

           The Farmington office of the FBI and the Jicarilla Apache Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Cowen and Kyle Nayback are prosecuting the case.