USA v. Trujillo

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW MEXICO
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff,
v. 	No. CR 25-0549 KG
RUBEN JOSE TRUJILLO,
Defendant.
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
This matter is before the Court on Defendant Ruben Jose Trujillo’s motion for severance,
filed October 25, 2025. Doc. 51. Defendant is charged with, among other crimes, four counts of
interference with commerce by robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951. 	Doc. 8. 	Defendant
asserts that he is “concerned that the jury will not be able to consider each count separately” and
“might use evidence admitted in one count as evidence of guilt in another count.” Doc. 51. The
United States opposes the motion. Doc. 53.
The Court concludes that the motion lacks merit. 	Doc. 53. 	Federal Rule of Criminal
Procedure 8(a) “permits a defendant to be charged in a single indictment with multiple offenses
when the offenses are sufficiently related,” “[b]ut Rule 14(a) provides that a court may order the
severance of offenses…properly joined in a single indictment, if the joinder is unfairly prejudicial
to either side.” United States v. Bagby, 696 F.3d 1074, 1086 (10th Cir. 2012). In this case, the
Court is persuaded that the four robbery offenses are sufficiently related and that joinder is not
unfairly prejudicial. Defendant’s motion for severance is therefore DENIED.
It is so ordered.
/s/ Kenneth J. Gonzales___________________
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Case 2:25-cr-00549-KG Document 55 Filed 12/09/25 Page 1 of 2

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Case 2:25-cr-00549-KG Document 55 Filed 12/09/25 Page 2 of 2