Albuquerque, NM – A Laguna man has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges stemming from a tragic DWI crash that killed three members of the same family in August 2022. Cody Allen Charlie, 37, an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Acoma, admitted to driving drunk at a high speed and causing the fatal accident.
On August 7, 2022, Charlie was driving his Ford Explorer on Interstate 40 near mile marker 130 within the exterior boundaries of the Laguna Pueblo. According to the plea agreement, Charlie was traveling at 116 miles per hour while using his cell phone when he crashed into a Lexus SUV. The impact caused the Lexus to veer off the road, roll over, and ultimately led to the deaths of all three occupants— identified as John Doe 1, John Doe 2, and Jane
Doe.
Charlie, who had a prior conviction for DWI and multiple speeding violations, fled the scene on foot following the crash. He later acknowledged that his actions were taken with 'malice aforethought,' demonstrating a callous and wanton disregard for human life.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico, Alexander M.M. Uballez, announced the plea agreement on May 17, 2024. The agreement, filed under Rule 11(c)(1)(C) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, stipulates that Charlie will face a prison sentence ranging from 10 to 20 years. The exact sentence will be determined by the court at a later date.
Following his release, Charlie will be subject to up to five years of supervised release.
'The defendant’s reckless actions took the lives of three innocent people and devastated a family,' said U.S. Attorney Uballez. 'This plea agreement ensures that Charlie will be held accountable for his actions and will serve a significant sentence.'
The Bureau of Indian Affairs led the investigation with support from the Laguna Police Department and New Mexico State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittany DuChaussee and Zachary C. Jones are prosecuting the case.
As part of the plea deal, Charlie waived several rights, including the right to appeal the conviction or the sentence, provided the sentence falls within the agreed range. Additionally, Charlie agreed to pay a mandatory special penalty assessment of $300 and acknowledged his responsibility to provide truthful and complete information to the U.S. Pretrial Services and Probation Office.