SHIPROCK MAN SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS FOR STRANGLING AND KIDNAPPING VICTIM DURING SERIES OF VIOLENT ATTACKS

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A Shiprock man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for strangling a victim, later kidnapping them from their residence, reportedly assaulting them again, and abandoning them along a roadside.

Darrin Begay, 34, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, received the 240-month sentence after pleading guilty to assault by strangulation and kidnapping.

According to court documents, the violence began on or about June 30, 2025, when Begay repeatedly punched and kicked the victim before strangling them.

The assault caused visible injuries to the victim’s face, neck, and arms. Strangulation can cause internal injuries and life-threatening medical complications even when the full extent of the damage is not immediately visible.

The initial attack was followed by a second violent encounter two days later.

On July 2, 2025, Begay went to the victim’s home and threatened to harm members of the victim’s family. He then forced the victim into a vehicle and drove them away from the residence.

The threat against the victim’s relatives added another level of coercion to the kidnapping by placing the safety of other family members at risk if the victim resisted or attempted to seek assistance.

After removing the victim from the residence, Begay reportedly assaulted them again. He then pushed the injured victim from the vehicle and left them along the roadside.

The kidnapping placed the victim under Begay’s physical control and separated them from the relative safety of their home. Abandoning the victim beside the road following another assault created an additional risk by leaving them injured and without immediate protection.

Begay pleaded guilty to assault by strangulation and kidnapping, eliminating the need for a federal trial. His guilty plea established his criminal responsibility for both offenses.

On July 28, 2026, the federal court sentenced Begay to 240 months in prison. He will also serve five years of supervised release after completing his prison term.

Supervised release will allow federal authorities to monitor Begay following his return to the community. Violations of the court-imposed conditions could result in additional legal consequences, including a possible return to custody.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced the sentence.

The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated the case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and the Department of Criminal Investigations.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meg Tomlinson and Nicholas Marshall prosecuted the case.

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