Peña sentenced for Albuquerque shootings

An ex political candidate in Albuquerque is sentenced to 80 years in federal prison after convictions tied to drive-by shootings at four Democratic officials’ homes.

Peña receives 80-year sentence for shootings at lawmakers homes

A former Republican candidate, Solomon Peña, was sentenced to 80 years in federal prison after being convicted of conspiracy, weapons and other charges connected to drive-by shootings at the homes of four Democratic officials in Albuquerque in late 2022 and early 2023.

Prosecutors said Peña resorted to violence in the belief that a rigged election had robbed him of victory in his bid to serve in the state Legislature. The attacks targeted homes of four Democratic officials, including the current state House speaker. No one was injured, but bullets passed through the bedroom of a state senator’s 10-year-old daughter. Two other men who helped Peña pleaded guilty earlier and received long prison terms.

The case sits at the intersection of politics and violence, highlighting how heated election dynamics can spill into actions that threaten public safety. It underscores the need for strong security measures around officials and clear legal accountability for those who cross the line from protest to criminal harm. At the same time, it shows the limits of prosecutorial power and how defense strategies frame convictions as a matter of due process and innocence claims. The sentencing also occurs amid a national wave of election related threats, reminding communities that rhetoric can have real consequences.

Highlights

Trust in elections depends on accountability, not headlines.