New Mexico man pleads guilty to drive-bys targeting Democrats’ homes

Federal court documents filed Friday show Demetrio Trujillo, 42, said he was hired by Solomon Pena, who was arrested in 2023

A New Mexico man has said he was hired by a failed Republican candidate for political office to carry out drive-by shootings targeting the homes of Democrats who would not abide by false election-rigging claims.

Demetrio Trujillo, 42, indicated in federal court documents filed Friday that he had been hired for the spate of attacks by Solomon Pena, whose run for a seat in the New Mexico state legislature in November 2022 ended in defeat. Trujillo pleaded guilty to charges of election interference, criminal conspiracy and firearms-related offenses, and he could face several years in prison as he awaits a sentencing hearing that wasn't immediately scheduled, the US attorney's office in Albuquerque said in a statement.