On August 13, 2025, a federal court in Albuquerque, New Mexico handed down an 80-year prison sentence to Solomon Peña, a failed Republican candidate for the state House, following his conviction for orchestrating a series of drive-by shootings at the homes of Democratic officials. The attacks, which took place between December 2022 and January 2023, targeted four public figures, including the current state House speaker, in the aftermath of Peña’s landslide defeat in the November 2022 election.
According to The Associated Press, Peña’s conviction earlier this year stemmed from a string of felonies—13 in total—including conspiracy, weapons charges, intimidation, interference with federally protected activities, and solicitation to commit violence. The shootings, which prosecutors described as politically motivated, shocked the Albuquerque community and reverberated nationally as an example of the growing threats faced by public officials in the wake of disputed elections.
Peña, 42, had lost his bid for the New Mexico state Legislature by nearly 50 percentage points. In the weeks following his defeat, he repeatedly pressed the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners not to certify the election results, alleging—without evidence—that the vote had been “rigged” against him. When the commissioners refused, Peña escalated his actions, recruiting two acquaintances, Jose and Demetrio Trujillo, to help carry out the attacks. As reported by WORLD News Group, Peña provided money and instructions to the Trujillos and personally participated in one of the drive-by shootings.
The shootings occurred at the residences of two county commissioners and two state legislators, all Democrats. The attacks were not random: they followed the certification of the 2022 election and appeared designed to intimidate those who had, in Peña's view, enabled his electoral defeat. Prosecutors said the violence was meant to “cause political change by terrorizing people who held contrary views to him into being too afraid to take part in political life.”
Although no one was physically injured during the shootings, the consequences could have been catastrophic. In one incident, bullets tore through the bedroom of a state senator’s 10-year-old daughter. As Fox News noted, some of the attacks took place while children and other relatives were at home, highlighting the reckless endangerment of innocent lives.
The case against Peña was bolstered by the testimony of his co-conspirators. Both Jose and Demetrio Trujillo pleaded guilty to their roles in the attacks and received prison sentences—Jose was sentenced to approximately three years, and Demetrio to 15 years, according to the Department of Justice. Prosecutors argued that Peña not only orchestrated the shootings but, after his arrest, attempted to bribe fellow inmates to kill the Trujillos to prevent them from testifying against him. This brazen attempt to obstruct justice was a key factor in the severity of his sentence.
During the sentencing hearing, prosecutors pushed for a 90-year term, emphasizing Peña’s lack of remorse and the gravity of his actions. “Violence and intimidation have no place in our elections,” U.S. Attorney for New Mexico Ryan Ellison said in a statement quoted by Fox News. “The defendant sought to undermine the democratic process by terrorizing those who disagreed with him.”
Peña’s defense team, meanwhile, maintained his innocence and sought a 60-year sentence. They argued that the prosecution’s case relied heavily on the testimony of the Trujillos, who, having accepted plea deals, had a vested interest in shifting blame. Nicholas Hart, one of Peña’s attorneys, told NPR, “Today was a necessary step toward Mr. Peña’s continued fight to prove his innocence. He looks forward to the opportunity to appeal, where serious issues about the propriety of this prosecution will be addressed.”
The shootings unfolded during a period of heightened tension and intimidation directed at election workers and officials across the United States. After the 2020 presidential election, in which President Donald Trump and his allies repeatedly questioned the legitimacy of the results, threats against public officials surged. The attacks in Albuquerque became emblematic of this national trend, underscoring the real-world dangers of political disinformation and the erosion of trust in democratic institutions.
The federal jury that convicted Peña in March 2025 found him guilty of conspiracy, possessing a firearm as a felon, interfering with federally protected activities, and solicitation to commit violence, among other charges. In addition to his lengthy prison sentence, Peña was ordered to pay restitution and a $250,000 fine, and he will be subject to three years of supervised release after his incarceration, according to WORLD News Group. The court’s decision sends a clear message about the consequences of politically motivated violence, particularly when it threatens the fabric of democracy.
Political violence in the United States is not new, but the Peña case stands out for its direct connection to election denialism and the targeting of officials performing their legal duties. The fact that no one was physically harmed in the attacks was described by prosecutors as “a matter of luck, not design.” The judge in the case echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the intent to intimidate and potentially harm public servants warranted the severe sentence imposed.
Peña’s conviction and sentencing have drawn reactions from across the political spectrum, with many officials expressing relief that justice was served, while others—particularly Peña’s supporters—continue to question the legitimacy of the proceedings. The case has also reignited debates about the safety of election officials and the need for greater protections amid an era of increasing polarization and mistrust.
For the families and officials targeted, the attacks left a lasting impact. While the physical wounds may be absent, the psychological scars and the sense of vulnerability endure. As one official told The Associated Press, “It’s not just about me. It’s about everyone who steps up to serve and now has to think twice about their own safety and that of their loved ones.”
Looking ahead, Peña’s legal team has vowed to appeal, promising to challenge what they describe as “serious issues about the propriety of this prosecution.” Whether those arguments will gain traction in higher courts remains to be seen. For now, the 80-year sentence stands as a stark warning about the consequences of letting anger over political defeat spiral into violence—and a reminder that, in a democracy, the rule of law must prevail over the rule of the gun.