Drunk Driver Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Second Degree Murder Publisher: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona Byline: Zach J. Stoebe Dateline: Phoenix, Arizona Date: 17 August 2023 Subjects: American Government , Crime

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Derwin Davis Tsosie, Jr., 26, of Tuba City, Arizona, was sentenced by United States District Judge Douglas L. Rayes on Monday to 12 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Tsosie pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder. 

On November 14, 2022, Tsosie was driving at approximately 135 miles per hour when he hit the victims’ car from behind, killing the driver and seriously injuring the passenger. Tsosie’s blood alcohol concentration was .323, more than four times the legal limit. At the time of the crash, Tsosie’s license was suspended for a previous DUI arrest. The crime occurred on the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation, where Tsosie is an enrolled member.

The Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety, Arizona Department of Public Safety, and Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix handled the prosecution.
 

CASE NUMBER:           CR 23-8019-PCT-DLR
RELEASE NUMBER:    2023-124_Tsosie

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Updated August 17, 2023

Press Release Number: 2023-124_Tsosie