Habitual Offender Sentenced for Domestic Violence

ALBUQUERQUE – A Dulce man was sentenced to 46 months in prison after pleading guilty to domestic assault by a habitual offender and assault by an intimate partner by strangling, suffocating or attempting to strangle or suffocate.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court documents, on December 26, 2021, Matthew Vicenti, 34, an enrolled member of the Jicarilla Apache Tribe, assaulted the mother of his two children over two days at his Dulce home on the Jicarilla Apache Reservation. Vicenti slapped, pushed, punched and strangled the victim, breaking her phone and taking her shoes to prevent her from leaving. When police arrived, Vicenti turned off lights, cut the WiFi and covered the victim's mouth, and choked her, causing bruising to her throat. Vicenti was on probation at the time and was concerned about getting in trouble.

After completing his term of imprisonment, Vicenti will be required to serve three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez made the announcement today.

The Jicarilla Apache Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly Bell is prosecuting the case.

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