A former Ohkay Owingeh Police Department officer, Justin Aguino, pleaded guilty on Apr. 10 to obstruction of justice after admitting he disclosed sensitive information about a federal investigation while serving as an officer.
The case highlights the importance of law enforcement officers maintaining integrity and protecting confidential information during investigations. Disclosure of such details can compromise ongoing cases and endanger individuals involved.
According to court documents, Aguino, 31, made a phone call on February 26, 2020, informing an individual that someone they were in contact with was cooperating with federal authorities. This disclosure was intended to alert the individual about the informant’s status and had the potential to interfere with an active investigation involving Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration. When questioned by FBI agents in 2022, Aguino denied having shared this information.
After being released pending trial in July 2023, Aguino failed to appear for a child support hearing in August 2024. This led to a tribal bench warrant for his arrest and further violations when he did not maintain contact with Pretrial Services. The FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office later offered a reward for information leading to his capture; Aguino was arrested at Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo on November 26, 2025.
Aguino now faces up to fifteen months in prison at sentencing following his guilty plea.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced the plea agreement. The case was investigated by multiple agencies including Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Region III Drug Enforcement Task Force.
