ALBUQUERQUE – A Pine Hill man has been sentenced to 48 months in prison for the sexual abuse of a seven-year-old girl. Tony Jake Jr., 75, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, received his sentence in federal court on June 7 and will remain in custody until his term is completed.
According to court documents, the incident occurred on May 28, 2022. Jake approached the young girl, referred to as Jane Doe, while she was playing outside a church she attended with her grandmother. Jake separated Doe from the other children and proceeded to assault her. Doe’s grandmother, noticing her absence, began searching for her and eventually found her with Jake.
Shortly after, Doe's mother picked her up from her grandmother's house. Once home, Doe confided in her mother about Jake's actions, prompting her mother to rush her to the hospital for an examination. Doe later participated in a forensic interview where she provided a detailed account of the abuse to investigators.
When questioned by an FBI agent, Jake admitted to his conduct and subsequently pleaded guilty to one count of abusive sexual contact. The court has mandated that following his prison term, Jake will serve five years of supervised release and will be required to register as a sex offender.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement of Jake's sentencing.
“This sentence reflects our commitment to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Uballez. “We stand with the victim and her family in their pursuit of justice and healing.”
The case was investigated by the Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office with significant support from the Navajo Nation Department of Investigation and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly Bell prosecuted the case.
This sentencing comes after two years of continued investigations by federal and tribal authorities. These entities have been working together in an initiative called “Project Safe Childhood” to protect children and hold offenders accountable.