Hipolito Gutierrez, Violent Abduction, Texas 2019

A brutal kidnapping that left a woman shaken has finally come to an end with the sentencing of a 23-year-old Houston man. Hipolito Gutierrez pleaded guilty to his role in the crime on November 26, 2019.

According to court documents, Gutierrez and his accomplice, Nico Namitle-Morales, kidnapped the woman at gunpoint from her vehicle as she drove into her garage. They then transported her to Dallas and held her captive for three days, demanding ransom payments.

Today, Judge Sim Lake sentenced Gutierrez to a 10-year-term of imprisonment to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. This brings an end to the case, with Namitle-Morales having been sentenced to a 20-year sentence in December 2021 for his role as the main gunman and mastermind of the kidnapping.

The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and Texarkana Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Peneguy prosecuted the case.

Gutierrez will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The details of the violent abduction have been met with shock and outrage from the community. The case highlights the dangers of kidnapping and the importance of law enforcement’s efforts to bring perpetrators to justice.

Gutierrez is the last man to be sentenced for his role in the crime. His sentence serves as a reminder of the seriousness of kidnapping and the consequences of committing such a heinous crime.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/houston-man-sent-prison-role-violent-abduction