ABQ Times

An Espanola man has been sentenced to 17 years in federal prison for his involvement in the 2018 kidnapping, assault, and murder of a woman. The incident was reportedly an act of retaliation for alleged theft.

According to court documents, on January 14, 2018, Luis Mariscal-Lopez, 26, along with Jorge Dominguez, Crystal Ramos, and another individual conspired against Jane Doe for allegedly stealing and using Ramos' ATM card. The group lured the victim to Ramos' residence in Espanola where they assaulted her over an extended period until she succumbed to her injuries.

To cover up their crime, the group wrapped Jane Doe's body in plastic and transported it to a remote area near Velarde, N.M. They attempted to dismember her remains before digging shallow pits to burn the body. However, upon spotting a helicopter, they extinguished the fire and returned to Ramos' home with the remains concealed in a toolbox. Later, Johnny Black and another individual buried the toolbox near Ojo Caliente, N.M.

Johnny Black pleaded guilty to federal firearms offenses and being an accessory after the fact; he was sentenced to 171 months in prison. Jorge Dominguez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnapping and is awaiting sentencing scheduled for August 6, 2024. Crystal Ramos died in a shootout with police in Denver on June 14, 2018.

Upon release from prison, Mariscal-Lopez will be subject to five years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today. The case was investigated by the Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office with assistance from multiple local law enforcement agencies. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicholas J. Marshall and Caitlin L. Dillon are prosecuting the case.