Zuni Pueblo Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Involuntary Manslaughter Charge

U.S. Attorney’s Office
District of New Mexico
23 March 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ALBUQUERQUE – Raylan Reano, 25, an enrolled member and resident of Zuni Pueblo, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court in Albuquerque, N.M., to an involuntary manslaughter charge.

Reano was arrested in Dec. 2017, on an indictment charging him with killing a woman on Oct. 23, 2016, on the Zuni Pueblo in McKinley County, N.M. According to the indictment, Reano killed the victim while driving under the influence of alcohol.

During today’s proceedings, Reano pled guilty to the indictment charging him with involuntary manslaughter and admitted killing the victim while driving recklessly while under the influence of alcohol. Reano acknowledged that the alcohol rendered him incapable of exercising clear judgment and a steady hand in operating the vehicle.

At sentencing, Reano faces a maximum statutory penalty of eight years in federal prison. A sentencing hearing has yet to be scheduled.

This case was investigated by the Gallup office of the FBI and the Zuni Pueblo Tribal Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Mease is prosecuting the case.