Zuni Man Charged with Federal Assault After Violent Attack

ALBUQUERQUE - A Zuni man has been charged in federal court after allegedly assaulting a victim with a sharp-edged weapon during a violent incident at a residence in Zuni, New Mexico.

According to court documents, on June 2, 2024, D'ante Kekoa Pooacha-Thomas, 30, an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Zuni, allegedly assaulted an older male inside their shared residence in Zuni. During the assault, Pooacha-Thomas allegedly attacked the older male with a knife or box cutter, inflicting a severe wound to the male's neck and additional cuts to his face, hands, forearms, and legs. When two other residents of the home intervened, Pooacha-Thomas allegedly struck one of them with a baseball bat. As the injured victim was being transported to a medical facility by one of the residents, Pooacha-Thomas allegedly stole one of their cars and followed them, attempting to run them off the road.

Pooacha-Thomas is charged with two felony crimes: Assault resulting in serious bodily injury and Assault with a dangerous weapon. He was released to La Pasada halfway house, where he will remain on strict conditions of release pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted, Pooacha-Thomas faces up to 10 years in prison.

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, made the announcement today.

The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Pueblo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.