The federal courthouse in Albuquerque, New Mexico. (Photo by Megan Gleason / Source NM)
A father-son duo have admitted to conspiring with a candidate for the New Mexico House of Representatives to violently interfere with the 2022 midterm election.
Demetrio Trujillo and his attorney on Thursday signed a plea agreement with federal prosecutors admitting his guilt to five criminal charges related to a series of shootings in Albuquerque in late 2022 and early 2023.
He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, two counts of election interference, one count of using a gun to commit a crime, and one count of firing that gun.
His son, Jose Louise Trujillo, pleaded guilty to his own set of five charges on Jan. 9. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy, one count of election interference, one count of using a gun during a crime, and one count of possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute.
Solomon Peña, the House candidate who is accused of orchestrating the shootings, is scheduled to go to trial in June on charges of conspiracy and election interference, along with gun and drug charges.