Fidel Garza Jr., a 35-year-old McAllen resident, has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction for robbery of a motor vehicle with intent to cause serious harm or death, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Garza pleaded guilty to the crime on February 15, 2022, and was sentenced to 85 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez. This term of imprisonment will be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. The court heard additional evidence regarding Garza’s criminal history, including prior felony convictions for discharging a firearm in 2016 and being a felon in possession of a firearm in 2021.
The crime took place on November 25, 2021, in the 1200 block of 28th Street. Garza was riding in the passenger seat of a truck that pulled in front of an SUV and stopped. A 67-year-old man was driving the vehicle, accompanied by his three minor passengers. Garza exited the passenger side of the truck and approached the SUV, pointing a handgun at the driver and demanding that he and his passengers exit the vehicle. Fearing for their lives, they complied.
Garza then entered the SUV and fled the scene. Law enforcement tracked him to a rural location in Edinburg, where he was arrested in December 2021. At the time of his arrest, Garza admitted his role in the robbery.
The investigation was conducted by the McAllen Police Department, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the FBI, and the Edinburg Police Department as part of the Rio Grande Valley Safe Streets Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony J. Evans and James Sturgis prosecuted the case.
Garza will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Garza’s sentencing serves as a reminder of the consequences of violent crime in our community. The McAllen Police Department and other law enforcement agencies will continue to work tirelessly to keep our streets safe and bring perpetrators to justice.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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