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Failed GOP candidate sentenced to 80 years in connection with shooting spree at Democrat officials' homes
A former Republican candidate for a New Mexico state House seat was sentenced Wednesday to 80 years behind bars after contracting gunmen to carry out drive-by shootings at the homes of Democratic officials after his election loss.Solomon Pea was convicted of 13 felony charges earlier this year after he orchestrated the attacks in Albuquerque, New Mexico just weeks after his defeat in November 2022.He had been charged with conspiracy, being a felon in possession of a firearm, four counts of intimidation and interference with federally protected activities, four counts of using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and three counts of solicitation to commit a crime of violence.The shootings, one of which involved a machine gun, were carried out between Dec. 4, 2022, and Jan. 3, 2023. Pea personally participated in one of the attacks.FORMER CONGRESSMAN GEORGE SANTOS DELIVERS 'GLAMOROUS' FAREWELL BEFORE GOING TO PRISON: 'THE CURTAIN FALLS'Some of the shootings happened while children and other relatives of the victims were at home, although nobody was hurt.Prosecutors said Pea organized the shootings at the homes of two Bernalillo County commissioners and two New Mexico state legislators in response to unsubstantiated claims that election fraud contributed to his loss."Violence and intimidation have no place in our elections," U.S. Attorney for New Mexico Ryan Ellison said in a statement on Wednesday.The officials Pea targeted were all Democrats and included the current state House speaker.Following his unsuccessful campaign, Pea went to the homes of members of the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners and pressured them not to certify the election results, purporting that the election had been "rigged" against him.When they refused and certified the results, Pea hired co-conspirators Jose Trujillo and Demetrio Trujillo to carry out the shootings, prosecutors said.MS-13 LEADER IN TRUMPS CROSSHAIRS TO BE SENTENCED IN RACKETEERING CASE INVOLVING 8 LONG ISLAND MURDERSThe two men Pea contracted for the shooting spree pleaded guilty last year. Following his arrest, Pea attempted to havethe pair murderedto prevent them from testifying.In addition to the 80 years in prison, Pea was given three years of supervised release. His lawyer said he would appeal the conviction.Fox News' Danielle Wallace and Reuters contributed to this report.
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