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<\/p>\n Email Link<\/p>\n Albuquerque, New Mexico \n A failed political candidate was sentenced to 80 years in federal prison Wednesday for his convictions in a series of drive-by shootings at the homes of state and local lawmakers in Albuquerque in the aftermath of the 2020 election.\n <\/p>\n \n A jury convicted<\/a> former Republican candidate Solomon Pe\u00f1a<\/a> earlier this year of conspiracy, weapons and other charges in the shootings in December 2022 and January 2023 on the homes of four Democratic officials, including the current state House speaker.\n <\/p>\n \n Prosecutors, who had sought a 90-year sentence, said Pe\u00f1a has shown no remorse and had hoped to cause political change by terrorizing people who held contrary views to him into being too afraid to take part in political life.\n <\/p>\n \n Pe\u00f1a\u2019s lawyers had sought a five-year sentence, saying their client maintains that he is innocent of the charges. They have said Pe\u00f1a was not involved in the shootings and that prosecutors were relying on the testimony of two men who bear responsibility and accepted plea agreements in exchange for leniency.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cToday was a necessary step toward Mr. Pe\u00f1a\u2019s continued fight to prove his innocence,\u201d said Nicholas Hart, one of Pe\u00f1a\u2019s attorneys. \u201cHe looks forward to the opportunity to appeal, where serious issues about the propriety of this prosecution will be addressed.\u201d\n <\/p>\n
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\n AP
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