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Defendant Sentenced to Prison for Carjacking in Texas
In a case that highlights the brazen nature of carjackings, Erasmo Garza, 29, of Edinburg, has been sentenced to 51 months in federal prison for his role in a carjacking that occurred in August 2012.
Chief U.S. District Judge Ricardo Hinojosa handed down the sentence, which also includes a two-year-term of supervised release. Garza was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2947.49.
The crime, which took place in the parking lot of a local restaurant, involved Garza forcing a woman out of her Mercedes Benz at gunpoint. This was not Garza’s first run-in with the law, as he had been involved in a high-speed chase with local police officers prior to the carjacking.
According to investigators, Garza crashed his vehicle while attempting to elude authorities and then ran across Texas Highway 83 into the parking lot of the Macaroni Grill. It was there that he forcibly removed the victim from her Mercedes and fled from police.
Garza was arrested several days later without incident and has been in federal custody without bond since January 2013. He will remain in custody until he is transferred to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be designated in the near future.
The investigation leading to the charges against Garza was conducted by the FBI and the FBI Safe Street Task Force, with assistance from the McAllen Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Leo J. Leo III prosecuted the case.
The sentence handed down to Garza is a stark reminder of the consequences of committing violent crimes. In this case, the victim was left shaken but alive, thanks to the quick thinking of law enforcement officials.
Garza’s sentence serves as a warning to would-be carjackers that the law will not hesitate to bring them to justice. As the Grimy Times continues to report on the harsh realities of crime in our society, we are reminded of the importance of community vigilance and cooperation with law enforcement.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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