Solomon Peña, a former candidate for the New Mexico House of Representatives, has been sentenced to 80 years in prison after being found guilty of organizing shootings at the homes of public officials and attempting to arrange the murder of witnesses following his defeat in the November 2022 midterm elections.
Court documents show that Peña, age 42, lost his bid for District 14 and then falsely claimed election fraud. He pressured members of the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners not to certify the results. When they refused, he recruited Jose Trujillo and Demetrio Trujillo to carry out shootings at several officials’ homes. Peña provided money, instructions, and addresses and took part in one attack himself. One incident involved a fully automatic machine gun; bullets struck areas where children had recently been or were sleeping.
After his arrest, Peña tried to have Jose and Demetrio Trujillo killed to stop them from testifying against him. He offered fellow inmates money and a vehicle in exchange for their deaths.
On March 23, 2025, a federal jury convicted Peña on all counts: conspiracy; being a felon in possession of a firearm; four counts each of intimidation and interference with federally protected activities; four counts of using or carrying a firearm during crimes of violence; and three counts of solicitation to commit violent crime.
“Violence and intimidation have no place in our elections,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison. “This sentence shows that through the tireless work of our agents and prosecutors we will protect our democracy and bring offenders to justice.”
“The FBI is committed to protecting the American people and bringing justice to those who try to harm others and disrupt our democratic processes,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Philip Russell. “We are grateful for our local and federal partners who worked tirelessly to ensure Solomon Peña is no longer a harm to the public.”
Peña will also serve three years under supervised release after completing his prison term. The court ordered him to pay restitution as well as a $250,000 fine.
Jose Trujillo pleaded guilty on related charges including conspiracy, interference with federally protected activities, use of firearms during violent crimes, discharging firearms, and drug offenses involving fentanyl distribution. He received a sentence of just over three years in prison.
Demetrio Trujillo pleaded guilty on similar charges—conspiracy; two counts related to interference with federally protected activities; two weapons charges involving use during violent crimes (one including discharge). He was sentenced to fifteen years behind bars.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison along with Philip Russell from the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office announced these outcomes today.
The investigation was led by the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office together with Albuquerque Police Department support from Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremy Peña and Patrick E. Cordova (District of New Mexico) along with Trial Attorney William Gullotta (Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section) prosecuted this case.
