Indian Arts and Craft Act Sentencing Hearing in New Mexico

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 8, 2018

Dear Tribal Leaders, Officers, and Friends of New Mexico’s Pueblos and Tribes,

As many of you are aware, for several years, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Attorney’s Office have been investigating violations of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act (IACA).  That investigation has resulted in the filing of federal charges against a number of defendants.  Two of the defendants, Nael Ali and Mohammed Manasra, who have pleaded guilty to IACA charges are scheduled to be sentenced at 10:15 am on Thursday, May 10, 2018, in federal court in Albuquerque.

Because of the importance of the IACA to Native Americans and the interest so many of you have expressed in these cases, we wanted to make you aware of these upcoming sentencing hearings.  The attached sentencing memorandum provides a brief history on the IACA and a summary of the investigation leading to filing of charges and the convictions of the two defendants who are scheduled for sentencing on May 10. 

As you may know, federal judicial proceedings are public and so you may attend if you so desire.  While we expect the sentencing hearings to go forward, if they get postponed for some unexpected reason, we will send an email notifying you of that fact.

Please do not hesitate to contact Kyle Nayback, Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney for our Office’s Indian Country Crimes Section, or Michael Murphy, our Office’s Tribal Liaison, both of whom are copied on this email, if you have any questions regarding this matter.

Please use this link to register for the 2018 District of New Mexico Tribal Consultation:  www.usaonmtraining.org/DNMTribalConsultation, which is scheduled for May 16, 2018 at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque.

Elizabeth M. Martinez | Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney | Public Affairs Officer

U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Mexico, P.O. Box 607, Albuquerque, NM 87103

Tel:  505-224-1469  | Cell: 505-239-4060 | Email:  elizabeth.martinez@usdoj.gov