Alexander M.M. Uballez, U.S. attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, special agent in charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced April 6 that Keanu Marcel Upshaw pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter.

Upshaw, 22, of Shiprock, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled.

According to the plea agreement and other court documents, on Sept. 16, 2021, Upshaw lost control of the vehicle he was driving, causing it to crash and ejecting both Upshaw and his passenger from the vehicle. Upshaw’s passenger died from injuries sustained as a result of the crash.

Tests showed that Upshaw’s blood alcohol concentration was 0.18 at the time of the accident, which is more than twice the legal limit in New Mexico. The crash occurred on the Navajo Nation.

Under the terms of his agreement, Upshaw can be sentenced to up to eight years in prison followed by up to three years of supervised release.

The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall prosecuted the case.