Court Cases | Former White Horse Lake official sentenced for federal program fraud

LOS ANGELES

Relda Martinez, a former employee of the Navajo Nation, has been sentenced to five years probation and 50 hours of probation for federal program fraud. She is also required to do 50 hours of community service.

Martinez, 57, pleaded guilty a year ago. Sentencing was delayed because of the slowdown in court activities because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to court records, Martinez was a community service coordinator at the White Horse Lake Chapter and was in charge of the chapter’s financial accounting system.

Between 2014 and 2016, she admitted in a plea agreement to using her access to the program to issue numerous checks to herself, her family and to friends for work that they had not performed.

The investigation found 12 checks to a person identified in court records as A.K. The purpose listed on the checks was for archaeological surveys as part of the process of getting a permit for land use on the reservation.

According to court records, A.K. was not a licensed archaeologist and had not performed any work.

Court records also recognized the fact that Martinez did not have total control of these funds. Another chapter official was required to sign the checks as well and the chapter has an internal auditor who reviewed revenue and expenditures.

Her plea agreement pointed out that the maximum sentence she was facing was 10 years in prison but prosecutors recommended a sharp reduction in light of her accepting responsibility for her actions.

“IRS criminal investigators, along with our law enforcement partners, will vigorously pursue individuals who take advantage of their position and misappropriate government funds for their homes own financial gain,” said Andy Tsukuba, who is in charge of the criminal investigation department for the IRS field office in Denver, adding that the office is committed to prosecuting anyone who violates the public’s trust.

Martinez is also required to pay $26,885.55 in restitution. She has the option to pay it back in full or set up installment payments of either $250 a month or 10% of her monthly income, whichever is greater.

Man charged for shooting spree

Peter Oka, 30, of Coolidge, New Mexico, is facing federal charges this week of shooting his sister and her friend and then shooting himself.

Oka has been charged with use of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do serious bodily harm and assault resulting in serious injury.

According to court records, Navajo Police received a call on Jan. 26 from a homeowner in Coolidge reporting multiple people having been shot at the residence.

Police later interviewed Oka’s mother, identified as Y.P., 58, who said on the evening of Jan. 26 the people in the house besides herself was Oka, her son; her daughter, identified as D.O., 31 and her friend, identified as A.N., also 31.

She said alcohol was being consumed in the house and she heard her son and daughter arguing loudly in the living room area. She said she heard the argument escalating and when she went to the living room, she saw A.N. between her son and daughter trying to keep them apart.

She said she asked Oka to leave and go back to his shack, which was located next door.

He agreed to go but before she knew what was happening, he pulled out a gun and shot several bullets into the ceiling.

He then pointed the gun at A.N. and fired several shots at him. He then pointed the gun at his sister and shot her. He finally turned and pointed the gun at his mother but did not fire it.

“There were several little children running around frantically because of the shooting,” Oka’s arrest warrant stated.

Oka then walked toward one of the doors in the residence but before he went out, he shot himself.

Y.P. said she then retrieved the gun and gathered the small children and led them to a back room where she called 911.

Two days later, FBI agents interviewed D.O. who said her brother was known as being a “loose cannon.”

She added he was violent and had, at times, fired his gun in the area without regard for the safety of any of his neighbors.

She said she and her brother began arguing about his violent behavior and it started to escalate.

She said her brother then fired into the ceiling and A.N. was shot several times in the chest when he tried to stop him from shooting at the ceiling.

She said her brother then turned the gun towards her and shot her.

When police got to the house, they found an ample amount of a red substance throughout the living room and kitchen. They also noted several small holes in the ceiling. They confiscated a 9 mm handgun in the kitchen.

Oka was transported to the Gallup Indian Medical Center where he was treated for a gunshot that entered at his neck and exited near one of his ears.

A.N. was immediately taken into surgery where he was operated on for the gunshot wounds to his chest. Two of the victims were then flown to Albuquerque for more extensive treatment.

Oka is currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshal’s Office in Albuquerque.

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