Shiprock Woman Charged with Involuntary Manslaughter and Assault

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Courtney Frank was arraigned on an indictment charging her with involuntary manslaughter and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Frank, 19, of Shiprock, and an enrolled member of Navajo Nation, will remain on conditions of release pending trial, which has not been scheduled.

According to the indictment, on Sept. 28, 2022, Frank operated a motor vehicle without due caution and circumspection and with a wanton and reckless disregard for human life when she knew and should have known that her conduct imperiled the lives of others. Frank, who was driving drunk, crashed her car head-on into a car driven by a mother and son, killing the mother and injuring the son.

A complaint is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Frank faces up to 10 years in prison.

The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and the New Mexico State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.

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