ARIZONA MAN INDICTED ON FOUR COUNTS OF AGGRAVATED SEXUAL ABUSE INVOLVING CHILD UNDER 12 ON NAVAJO NATION

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO — A 36-year-old Arizona man has been indicted on four federal charges of aggravated sexual abuse involving a child younger than 12 years old following allegations of repeated sexual offenses committed over a three-year period within the Navajo Nation. Federal prosecutors announced that Roman B. Ortiz, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, remains in custody while awaiting trial.

The indictment was announced October 14, 2026, by 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.

According to federal court documents, Ortiz allegedly engaged in or attempted to engage in sexual acts with the minor between June 2017 and June 2020. The alleged offenses occurred at a residence located within the exterior boundaries of the Navajo Nation.

Federal authorities have charged Ortiz with four counts of aggravated sexual abuse, each carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in federal prison upon conviction.

The charges concern alleged sexual acts involving a child below the age of 12, a category of offense subject to particularly severe penalties under federal law. Federal statutes addressing aggravated sexual abuse of children establish enhanced criminal penalties because of the age and vulnerability of the victims involved.

Prosecutors have also not publicly identified the minor or released details concerning the child’s relationship to Ortiz. The circumstances under which the alleged offenses were discovered have not been described in the October 14 announcement.

The case falls under federal jurisdiction because the alleged conduct occurred within Indian Country and involves an enrolled member of a federally recognized tribal nation.

Federal law provides jurisdiction over certain serious offenses committed in Indian Country, including qualifying sexual abuse crimes. These provisions allow federal investigators and prosecutors to pursue cases involving crimes that fall under the Major Crimes Act and other applicable federal statutes.

The Navajo Nation, which extends across portions of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah, maintains its own law enforcement and criminal investigative agencies. Investigations involving serious offenses within tribal lands frequently require coordination between tribal authorities and federal law enforcement personnel.

In Ortiz’s case, the investigation was conducted by the Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations.

An indictment represents a formal criminal accusation returned by a grand jury after determining that sufficient probable cause exists to support the charges. It does not constitute a finding of guilt, and the prosecution must establish each charged offense beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico.

Ortiz will remain in federal custody pending trial. The Justice Department confirmed that no trial date had been scheduled as of October 14.

If convicted, Ortiz faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison for each felony charge. The ultimate sentence would depend on the counts of conviction, applicable federal sentencing provisions, and the court’s determination of whether individual sentences must run concurrently or consecutively.

The charges remain pending, and no guilty plea, conviction, or sentencing decision has been announced.

The prosecution represents another federal investigation involving allegations of serious crimes against children within Indian Country, where federal and tribal law enforcement agencies share responsibilities for investigating offenses and protecting vulnerable victims.

Roman B. Ortiz remains in custody awaiting trial on four counts of aggravated sexual abuse involving a child younger than 12. The indictment contains allegations that have not been proven in court, and Ortiz is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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