Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Shooting Her Husband While at Residence on Fort Bliss in El Paso

In El Paso today, a federal judge sentenced 24–year-old Arely Brigette Ruiz to 78 months in federal prison for shooting her husband inside their residence on Fort Bliss earlier this year announced United States Attorney John F. Bash and FBI Special Agent in Charge Emmerson Buie, El Paso Division.

In addition to the prison term, United States District Judge Kathleen Cardone ordered that Ruiz pay $500.00 fine and be placed on supervised release for a period of three years after completing her prison term.

On October 6, 2017, Ruiz pleaded guilty to one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

According to court records, on January 16, 2017, Ruiz transported her husband to the William Beaumont Army Medical Center to receive emergency treatment for an abdominal gunshot wound.  Initially, both reported to hospital staff that the weapon, a 9mm pistol, had accidentally discharged during cleaning.  Ruiz’s husband underwent successful surgery and remained in a medically induced coma for the next three days.

On January 19, 2017, the victim regained consciousness and immediately told hospital staff that his wound was not self-inflicted, but rather, the defendant shot him with a pistol.  After initially denying involvement in the shooting, the defendant admitted to investigators that she, in fact, had shot her husband following an argument about their marriage.

Ruiz has remained in federal custody since her arrest on January 16, 2017. 

FBI agents conducted this investigation together with Army Criminal Investigative Command (CID).  Assistant United States Attorney Ian Hanna prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.