APD investigating source of campaign contributions to Solomon Pena

Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023

ALBUQUERQUE – As part of its investigation into recent shootings targeting local lawmakers, APD detectives uncovered potential illegal activity related to monetary contributions that Solomon Pena solicited during his failed campaign to serve in the state Legislature.

One of the suspects in the shootings, Jose Trujillo, donated $5,150 to Pena’s campaign last year. Trujillo’s occupation was listed in campaign finance reports as a cashier.  Trujillo’s mother, Melanie Griego, also donated $4,000 to the campaign. Those contributions, listing the same Southwest Albuquerque address, represent nearly 40% of the money raised by Pena.

The night of the shooting at Sen. Linda Lopez’s home in Southwest Albuquerque, Trujillo was arrested by a Bernalillo County Sheriff’s deputy on a felony warrant. The deputy identified two firearms, several magazines of ammunitions, 893 Fentanyl pills packaged in small baggies, and $3,036 in cash. One of the guns was later connected to the shooting at Sen. Lopez’s home. The deputy concluded that the guns, drugs and cash were consistent with dealing narcotics. Trujillo was booked on Jan. 3, 2023 for his outstanding warrant, as well as a new charge of trafficking in narcotics.

APD detectives learned through witness interviews related to the shooting investigation that Pena identified individuals to funnel contributions from an unknown source to his legislative campaign. Detectives are working with other law enforcement agencies to determine whether the money for the campaign contributions was generated from narcotics trafficking, and whether campaign laws were violated.

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