Member of Zuni Pueblo sentenced to five years in prison for sexually abusing a minor in Indian Country

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Byron Calavaza, 33, of Zuni, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Zuni, was sentenced on Feb. 23 in federal court to five years in prison for sexually abusing a minor in Indian Country. Calavaza pleaded guilty on March 23, 2021.

According to the plea agreement, Calavaza sexually abused the minor victim on four occasions between Dec. 25, 2017, and Jan. 21, 2018, at a residence on the Zuni Pueblo. Calavaza admitted to committing intentional and unlawful sexual abuse of a minor who was between the age of twelve and fifteen.

Upon his release from prison, Calavaza will be subject to five years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.

The Zuni Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Novaline D. Wilson prosecuted the case.