DALLAS – Melissa Trevino, a 23-year-old Dallas woman, will spend the next 17 and a half years in federal prison after being sentenced to 210 months (17 years, 6 months) for her role in a violent kidnapping attempt that escalated into a shooting at Ennis police. U.S. District Judge Jane J. Boyle handed down the sentence today, according to U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.
The botched kidnapping, rooted in an unpaid cocaine debt, unfolded on July 12, 2016. Trevino, along with Jose Cardenas Aguirre and Javier Martinez, plotted to abduct a victim to settle the score. The plan quickly unraveled, but not before Martinez and Aguirre donned ballistic vests and black camouflage, intending to intimidate and overpower their target. When the kidnapping failed, the trio fled in a vehicle, triggering a high-speed pursuit with officers from the Ennis Police Department.
The chase turned deadly when Martinez opened fire on a pursuing police officer with an AR-15 style rifle. Crucially, court documents reveal Trevino wasn’t just a bystander. Investigators determined she actively assisted Martinez, wiping fingerprints from the bullets before they were loaded and supplying him with a fresh magazine to continue firing at law enforcement. Her actions went beyond simple complicity, directly aiding an assault on officers sworn to protect the public.
Trevino pleaded guilty in November 2016 to one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and has been held in custody since her arrest in September 2016. She’s also facing deportation proceedings, being in the U.S. illegally at the time of the offense. This sentencing follows those of her co-defendants: Javier Martinez received 480 months, Indolfo Martinez (Javier’s father) 64 months, and Jose Cardenas Aguirre 324 months. Maria Guadalupe Bello was sentenced to 18 months.
One suspect remains at large: Jonathan Benitez is currently a fugitive and authorities are actively searching for him. The investigation, a collaborative effort between the Ennis Police Department and the FBI’s Violent Gang Taskforce, underscores the dangers posed by drug-related violence and the lengths criminals will go to collect debts. Assistant U.S. Attorney P.J. Meitl prosecuted the case, securing a significant conviction and a lengthy prison term for Trevino.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of involvement in illegal drug activity and the potential for violence to erupt. The Grimy Times will continue to follow the case of fugitive Jonathan Benitez and provide updates as they become available.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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