Clifton Nez Hamalowa, a 47-year-old resident of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, has been sentenced to life imprisonment plus an additional ten years. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge John J. Tuchi on May 27, 2025.
The case stems from an incident on August 29, 2020, when Hamalowa shot a victim multiple times in the head in front of the victim’s young child on Gila River Indian Community reservation land. Following the murder, Hamalowa and his siblings attempted to cover up the crime by disposing of the victim’s car and body in a remote area of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian reservation. Additionally, Hamalowa and his sister intimidated witnesses to prevent them from coming forward.
After a seven-day trial, a federal jury found Hamalowa guilty of several charges including First-Degree Murder and Discharging a Firearm During a Crime of Violence.
Hamalowa’s brother, Thomas Leon Hamalowa, admitted guilt to being an Accessory-After-the-Fact to Murder and received a sentence of 108 months in prison on October 23, 2023. His sister, Devonne Beth Hamalowa, also pleaded guilty to similar charges and was sentenced to 84 months in prison on April 1, 2024.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the FBI and Gila River Police Department. The prosecution was managed by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer E. LaGrange and Travis L. Wheeler from the District of Arizona in Phoenix.
