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Press Release

U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Guilty Plea in Gallup Armed Robbery Case

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE – A Gamerco woman pleaded guilty in federal court to robbery and federal firearms charges arising from her role in the armed robbery of a Gallup insurance company in 2021.

According to publicly available court documents, on December 4, 2021, Amber Yazzie, 29, entered an insurance company in Gallup, New Mexico, with two of her co-defendants, while a fourth co-defendant, waited outside in a vehicle. Yazzie brandished a firearm, yelled at the employees to turn over money, and threatened them before firing the gun into the ceiling.

Following the robbery, Yazzie and her co-defendants traveled to Albuquerque, where they used some of the stolen funds for a shopping spree at a local mall. Law enforcement later recovered receipts and surveillance footage documenting these purchases.

At sentencing, Yazzie faces not less than ten years and up to life in prison. Upon her release from prison, Yazzie will be subject to up to three 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 Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety, the Navajo Nation Police Department, the Gallup Police Department and the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.

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Updated July 19, 2024

Topic
Indian Country Law and Justice
Press Release Number: 24-253