U.S. Attorney and FBI Charge Albuquerque Man with Sexual Abuse of a Minor

ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man was charged by federal prosecutors with sexual abuse of a minor.

The indictment alleges that between January 2022 and May 2023, Joseph Arquero, 50, an enrolled member of Isleta Pueblo, engaged in or attempted to engage in a sexual act with a child that had not yet attained the age of 12 years.

Arquero will remain on conditions of release in the third-party custody of La Pasada Halfway House pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled.

If convicted, Arquero faces 30 years to life in prison.

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 FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Isleta Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Meg Tomlinson is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.