A 49-year-old Lummi Nation man with a decades-long history of domestic violence convictions was sentenced to five years in federal prison Wednesday following a brutal assault on a former intimate partner at a residence on the Lummi Nation Indian Reservation in May 2025. The sentence, handed down August 12 in U.S. District Court in Seattle, was described by federal prosecutors as above the standard guidelines range and was aimed at breaking what the court called a persistent and escalating pattern of violence.

Marc Cagey Oreiro pleaded guilty on June 6, 2026, to assault by strangulation of a former intimate partner. According to court records, Oreiro pushed the victim onto a bed, strangled her with his hands and forearm, punched her repeatedly in the head, back, stomach, side, and ear, struck her ribs with his knee, knelt on her chest, and threatened to kill her. The assault took place on May 23, 2025.

How Officers Found the Victim and the Arrest

Lummi Nation Police Department officers responded to the residence after a housemate called 911. When they arrived, Oreiro physically fought with responding officers before he was taken into custody. The victim was found inside a closet and was transported to a local hospital for treatment of injuries to her face, ears, and neck.

Oreiro was arrested on federal charges on June 4, 2025, and held at the Federal Detention Center in SeaTac. A federal grand jury returned an indictment on June 25, 2025. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington.

At sentencing, the judge also imposed a $50,000 fine. Restitution is to be determined at a later date. Following the five-year prison term, Oreiro will serve three years of supervised release.

A Pattern That Prosecutors Say Began in 1995

Federal prosecutors emphasized that Oreiro's history of domestic violence extended back more than three decades. "Mr. Oreiro had his first domestic violence conviction in 1995 when he was just 18 years old. His incidents of domestic violence assault have worsened since then, but Mr. Oreiro has spent little time behind bars," said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd in a news release. The victim told police that Oreiro had assaulted her approximately ten previous times that had not been reported to law enforcement.

The above-guidelines sentence reflects a deliberate decision by the court to prioritize incapacitation and deterrence given that pattern. "Based upon Mr. Oreiro's history, it is unlikely this pattern of violence would have stopped without intervention from the justice system," the judge said at sentencing. "This above-guidelines sentence, with three years of federal supervision to follow, is aimed at breaking the cycle of violence that has threatened those closest to this defendant."

The Judge's Words to the Victim

One of the notable moments at sentencing came when Judge King addressed the victim directly. The judge told her she was "brave," that no one deserves to be treated the way she was treated, and that her decision to report to law enforcement "may have prevented other women from becoming victims in the future." The judge added that she had done the right thing by coming forward.

Those words reflect a broader message that courts and advocates frequently try to reinforce in domestic violence cases: that reporting is difficult, dangerous, and courageous, and that survivors who do come forward often protect others beyond themselves.

Domestic violence on tribal lands carries particular legal complexity. Under the Major Crimes Act and related federal statutes, certain crimes committed on reservation land fall under federal rather than state jurisdiction, which is why this case was prosecuted federally rather than through Washington state courts. The Lummi Nation has its own tribal police force, the Lummi Nation Police Department, which made the initial arrest and response.

Resources for Survivors in Whatcom County

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). The Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services organization based in Bellingham provides local shelter, advocacy, and support services for survivors in Whatcom County. Callers can also reach the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673).

Tribal members on the Lummi Nation can also contact the tribe's victim services programs directly. The Lummi Nation has invested in domestic violence prevention and response resources in recent years, and those services are separate from and complementary to the federal prosecution process. Reporting to Lummi Nation Police does not require a decision about federal prosecution; officers and advocates can help survivors understand their options.