Shiprock Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Involuntary Manslaughter and Assault Charges

U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Mexico
July 17, 2014

ALBUQUERQUE—Samantha Deal, 29, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation who resides in Shiprock, N.M., pleaded guilty today to an indictment charging her with involuntary manslaughter and assault charges. Deal entered her guilty plea without the benefit of a plea agreement.

Deal was arrested on July 17, 2013, based on an indictment charging her with one count of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. According to the indictment, Deal was driving while under the influence of alcohol in San Juan County on Feb. 4, 2013, when she killed a woman and seriously injured two other individuals.

At sentencing, Deal faces a maximum penalty of eight years in federal prison on the involuntary manslaughter charge and a maximum penalty of ten years in prison for each of the two assault charges. Her sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Farmington office of the FBI, the Shiprock office of the Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety and the New Mexico State Police, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elaine Y. Ramirez.