ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — An Arizona man pleaded guilty in federal court to second- degree murder in connection with the brutal killing of a man on the Navajo Nation reservation in 2020.
Tyran Begay, 40, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, admitted to his role in the death of a man identified in court documents as 'John Doe.'
According to court documents, the crime occurred between February 6 and February 14, 2020. Begay, alongside two co-defendants, allegedly bound, beat, and strangled John Doe, leaving him exposed to freezing weather conditions in a remote area near Smith Lake, New Mexico.
As part of his plea, Begay faces a sentence ranging from 19 to 30 years in prison, followed by up to five years of supervised release. His sentencing date has not yet been scheduled, and he will remain in custody until then.
Begay’s co-defendants, Camille Damon and Ronald Belone, also face charges related to the crime and remain in custody awaiting trial. No trial date has been set for either defendant.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and FBI Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda commended the investigative efforts that led to Begay’s guilty plea. The FBI's Albuquerque Field Office, along with the Gallup Resident Agency and the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office, handled the investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark A. Probasco and Meg P. Tomlinson.