Federal Bureau of Investigation
4200 Luecking Park Ave NE
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87107
Phone: (505) 889-1300
FAX: (505) 889-1769

Released by/Refer Inquires to:
William A. Elwell
Special Agent – Media Representative
(505) 889-1660

Thomas C. McClenaghan/Special Agent In Charge
Scott O’Neal/Assistant Special Agent In Charge
Robert Evans/Assistant Special Agent In Charge

Thomas C. McClenaghan, Special Agent in Charge of the Albuquerque Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced that on Saturday, December 23, 2006, Michael D. Johnson, age 27, of Shiprock, New Mexico was taken into custody by Mexican Law Enforcement authorities and subsequently transferred to the custody of the FBI’s El Paso Violet Crimes Task Force later today.

Johnson is a primary suspect in the brutal execution style murders of Vicki Benally, Lars Yazzie, and Bobby Fulton on November 7, 2005 in Hogback, New Mexico. Johnson, as well as Eugina Renee Cowboy, age 23, Robert Darcy Manus, age 23, and Chuck Custer Nahkai, age 30 were previously charged with violations of Title 18, United States Code Sections 1153 and 1111 wherein they unlawfully killed Benally, Yazzie, and Fulton with malice aforethought, perpetrated by lying in wait, 1 st degree murder, discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, aiding and abetting the commission of offense against the United States, distributing a controlled substance in Indian Country.

Over the past year, Special Agents of the FBI’s Albuquerque and El Paso Divisions as well as the FBI’s Legal Attache in Mexico City had worked tirelessly with Mexican Law Enforcement authorities in an attempt to locate and apprehend Johnson who had been suspected of fleeing to Mexico shortly after the murders.

Based on information developed during the investigation by FBI Albuquerque, Mexican Law Enforcement authorities and the FBI’s Legal Attache in Mexico City were able to locate and safely apprehend Johnson earlier today. Johnson, who is a United States citizen, was declared as an undesirable in Mexico and was thus handed over to the FBI’s El Paso Violent Crime Task Force.

Johnson, who had been a fugitive since the date of the murders, is the last of the individuals who are suspected of this grizzly crime to be apprehended by federal authorities. Cowboy, Manus, and Nahkai are currently awaiting trial in New Mexico Federal Court with regard to the murder charges.

Johnson will be taken before a Federal Magistrate in El Paso, Texas on Tuesday, December 26, 2006 for his initial appearance.

The above information pertains to allegations only. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.