VICTORIA, Texas – A brazen shootout with U.S. Marshals landed Joseph Brent Benoit, 30, of Cuero, a staggering 190-month federal prison sentence. Benoit pleaded guilty back on January 7, 2019, to assault on a federal agent and being a felon in possession of a firearm – charges stemming from a chaotic August 2017 standoff.
The incident began when USMS deputies attempted to serve a felony arrest warrant on Benoit. Spotting him driving a black Chevrolet truck in Dewitt County, they called for backup from local law enforcement. Benoit initially stopped, but then floored it, leading authorities on a chase to his residence. Instead of surrendering, Benoit bolted from the truck, an AR-15 style, .223 caliber semi-automatic rifle in tow, and ran inside.
Almost immediately, a single gunshot rang out. Agents, facing a clear threat, retreated to cover. A multi-hour standoff ensued, with law enforcement repeatedly demanding Benoit’s surrender. He refused. Eventually, authorities breached the residence, discovering Benoit hiding in a crawl space accessed by a hidden floor door. The rifle was found lying next to him, along with 37 rounds of .223 ammunition stuffed in his pockets. As a convicted felon, Benoit was already prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition.
Evidence quickly revealed the source of the shot. A .223 caliber bullet hole pierced the front door glass, and a spent casing was located inside the residence. The bullet itself was recovered from a wooden railing near the front door, confirming it had been fired from within. Senior U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey didn’t mince words when handing down the sentence. Benoit received 60 months for the assault and an additional 120 months for discharging a firearm during a crime of violence – sentences to be served consecutively.
But the judge wasn’t finished. Considering Benoit was on supervised release at the time of the shooting, Judge Rainey added another 30 months for violating the terms of his release, with 10 of those months running consecutively to the existing sentences. Following the 190-month prison term, Benoit will face three years of supervised release. He remains in federal custody pending transfer to a Bureau of Prisons facility.
The investigation was a multi-agency effort, involving the USMS, ATF, FBI, Cuero Police Department, Texas Rangers, Corpus Christi Police Department Bomb Squad, Dewitt County Sheriff’s Office, Victoria Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Victoria County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patti Booth and Lance Watt are prosecuting the case. This case serves as a stark reminder that attacking federal agents carries severe consequences.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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