A Gallup man, Russell Lee Saunders, Sr., 45, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, has been federally charged with assault resulting in serious bodily injury following an alleged incident in November 2024.
According to court documents, Saunders is accused of assaulting and seriously injuring an individual identified as John Doe on November 9, 2024. He is currently in third-party custody, with a trial date yet to be scheduled. If convicted, Saunders faces a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Special Agent in Charge Justin A. Garris of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office announced the charges. The case was investigated by the FBI’s Gallup Resident Agency with support from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Teleky is prosecuting the case, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.