Espanola Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping

ALBUQUERQUE – An Espanola man was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison for his role in the brutal 2018 kidnapping, assault and murder of a woman in retaliation for allegedly stealing from another woman.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, on January 14, 2018, Luis Mariscal-Lopez, 26, Jorge Dominguez, Crystal Ramos and another individual conspired to retaliate against Jane Doe for allegedly stealing and using Ramos' ATM card. The group lured the victim to Ramos' residence in Espanola.

Upon Jane Doe's arrival, the group brutally assaulted her over an extended period of time until she ultimately died from the vicious attack.

In an attempt to cover up their crime, the group wrapped Jane Doe's body in plastic, loaded it into a vehicle and transported it to a remote area near Velarde, N.M. There, they tried to dismember her remains before digging shallow pits to burn the body. The group spotted a helicopter, so they extinguished the fire, gathered the remains and returned to Ramos' home where they attempted to conceal the remains in a toolbox.

Later, Black and another individual took the toolbox with the remains to a location near Ojo Caliente, N.M. There they buried the toolbox in a shallow grave near the river.

Johnny Black pleaded guilty to federal firearms offenses and being an accessory after the fact and was sentenced to 171 months in prison.

Jorge Dominguez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnapping and remains in custody pending sentencing which is currently scheduled for August 6, 2024.

Crystal Ramos died in a shootout with police in Denver, Colorado on June 14, 2018.

Upon his release from prison, Mariscal-Lopez will be subject to five years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Espanola Police Department, Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, Bureaus of Indian Affairs, and New Mexico State Police. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicholas J. Marshall and Caitlin L. Dillon are prosecuting the case.

# # #