U.S. Attorney’s Office Secures Guilty Plea in Federal Funds Theft Case

ALBUQUERQUE – A former Indian Health Service (IHS) housing manager admitted stealing over $5,000 in federal funds by pocketing rent payments from traveling medical personnel and students.

According to publicly available court documents, Alonzo James Cayatineto, 39, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, served as housing manager for IHS in Crownpoint from approximately 2017 until his resignation in January 2023. In this role, Cayatineto was responsible for collecting rent payments from pharmacy students and other medical personnel on temporary assignments in Crownpoint.

In December 2022, Cayatineto emailed former pharmacy students, claiming they had outstanding housing debts. He instructed them to pay via his personal Venmo account to avoid collections. Between December 2022 and January 2023, Cayatineto collected $5,363 in rent payments from 12 individuals through 15 separate Venmo transactions. Cayatineto failed to remit these funds to IHS and was not authorized to collect payments in this manner.

The scheme was uncovered in January 2023 when students complained about not receiving receipts for their payments. An internal IHS investigation led to Cayatineto being placed on administrative leave on January 27, 2023. He resigned the same day.

Cayatineto was sentenced to two years of probation. He was also ordered to complete community service and pay back the $5,363 he stole.

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

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.

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