A Mescalero man has been sentenced to 36 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to sexually abusing a minor. According to court records, Carlos Caje, 37, who is an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, engaged in sexual contact with a child under the age of 12 in February 2022.
Following his prison term, Caje will be required to serve 15 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender. Federal law does not allow for parole.
The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Philip Russell of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office.
The investigation was conducted by the Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office with support from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jackson K. Dering V and Joni Stahl prosecuted the case.
“There is no parole in the federal system.”
