Zuni Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Firearm Offenses

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 that Nicholas Pinto was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Pinto, 24, of Zuni, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Zuni, pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence in Indian Country on July 10, 2023.

According to court documents, on Sept. 18, 2022, Pinto and another individual arrived at John Doe’s house. Shortly after, Pinto began arguing with the individual he arrived with, which prompted John Doe to request that Pinto leave the residence. On his way out, Pinto told John Doe that he “would be back.” Pinto kept his promise, and armed with a shotgun, returned an hour later and shot John Doe in the lower body with a slug. While John Doe lied immobilized on the ground, Pinto racked another shell to finish him off, but the gun jammed. Pinto then fled the scene.

Upon his release from prison, Pinto will be subject to 5 years of supervised release.

The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew J. McGinley is prosecuting the case.

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