Navajo man pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter in Indian Country

            ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Felix Curtis, 26, of Fruitland, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pleaded guilty on May 14 in federal court to involuntary manslaughter in Indian Country.

            A grand jury indicted Curtis on Aug. 11, 2020.  According to the indictment and other court documents, Curtis committed this offense on Sept. 14, 2019 in San Juan County on the Navajo Nation.  Curtis was driving while intoxicated when he caused an accident that killed a man, identified in court records as John Doe. Curtis admitted to operating the vehicle without due caution and circumspection and with a wanton and reckless disregard for human life when he knew and should have known that his conduct imperiled the lives of others.

            Curtis remains out of custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled at this time. He faces up to eight years in prison.

            The Farmington Resident Office of the FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Shiprock Office of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety, the Navajo Nation Police Department, the New Mexico State Police, and the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney David Cowen is prosecuting the case.