Ex-Political Candidate Sentenced to 80 Years for Drive-By Shootings on NM Lawmakers’ Homes

In a federal court on Wednesday, a former political contender was sentenced to serve 80 years in prison for his involvement in a series of drive-by shootings at the residences of state and local legislators in Albuquerque following the 2020 election.

The jury found Solomon Peña guilty earlier this year on charges including conspiracy, weapons offenses, and other related crimes, connected to incidents in December 2022 and January 2023 where the homes of four Democratic officeholders, including the current state House speaker, were targeted.

Prosecutors, pushing for a 90-year sentence, argued that Peña has demonstrated no regret for his actions and aimed to instill fear among those holding differing political views, thereby preventing them from engaging in political life.

Peña’s legal team, who advocated for a five-year term, asserted their client’s innocence and claimed he was not implicated in the shootings. They also emphasized that prosecutors relied heavily on the testimonies of two individuals with culpability who accepted plea deals in exchange for leniency.

“Today marks an essential step towards Mr. Peña’s ongoing quest to prove his innocence,” said Nicholas Hart, one of Peña’s attorneys. “He remains optimistic about the appeal process, where concerns regarding the legitimacy of this prosecution will be thoroughly addressed.”

The attacks occurred amidst a wave of threats and intimidation against election workers and officials that swept across the nation following President Donald Trump and his allies’ contentions over the 2020 presidential election results.

Prosecutors suggested that Peña turned to violence under the belief that a “rigged” election had deprived him of victory in his campaign for a seat in the state Legislature, where he lost by nearly half of the vote. No one was injured in the shootings; however, during one instance, bullets penetrated the bedroom of a state senator’s 10-year-old daughter.

Two other men who admitted to assisting Peña with the attacks had previously pleaded guilty to federal charges and received prison sentences spanning several years.