The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas, Jay R. Combs, announced on Apr. 23 that his office is observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week with a focus on protecting victims and prosecuting firearms-related offenses. The announcement comes as the district reports sentencing 17 defendants to more than 261 years in federal prison for crimes involving guns.
National Crime Victims’ Rights Week highlights efforts to support crime victims and promote safer communities. This year’s theme is “Listen. Act. Advocate. Protect victims, serve communities.”
“Firearms are a staple in the world of drug trafficking, street gangs and cartels, and other criminal enterprises,” Combs said. “We are committed to making our communities safer by keeping firearms out of the hands of violent offenders. The cases below highlight our work to eradicate gun violence in the Eastern District of Texas.”
Recent cases include Israel Sanchez Arciga receiving a 27-year sentence for methamphetamine trafficking while armed; Brandon Elliot Bennett sentenced to over seven years for robbing a Plano gun store; Jaquallon Tyjuan Hargett given more than eight years after an armed ATM robbery; William Charles Fincher sentenced for possessing a firearm during domestic violence; and Charles Bernard Byrd convicted following multiple violent crimes as part of a Houston gang.
Other notable sentences involve Victor Manuel Navarette Roman receiving an 18-year term related to drug trafficking with a firearm, Abigael Colin Saldana sentenced for conspiring to traffic firearms from Texas to Mexico, Victor Heredia jailed after discharging a weapon during robberies, Naiyme Kidd imprisoned for an armed game room robbery in Beaumont, Santana Deangelo Powell given 25 years following discovery of drugs and weapons in his vehicle, Charleston Jamal Washington sentenced for two bank robberies at gunpoint, Jahtaya O’Dayjah Hamilton jailed after being found with stolen handguns during a traffic stop, Victor Guardado Zepeda imprisoned following violent convenience store robberies resulting in injury and large thefts, Carly Melana Fowler and Cole Ethan Schroeder sentenced after attempting an armed convenience store robbery together, Brian Keith Murphy identified through live-stream video footage after firing shots at individuals at a gas station parking lot, Keandre Marquis Robinson given over three decades behind bars for killing a clerk during robbery alongside Larry Nathaniel Hagan who received an even longer sentence.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office supports victims through dedicated services according to its official website. The office operates from locations including Beaumont, Lufkin, Plano, Sherman, Texarkana and Tyler according to its official website. As part of the United States Department of Justice according to its official website, it employs about 100 staff members—including roughly 50 assistant U.S. attorneys—and covers prosecution duties across 43 counties according to its official website.
The organization prosecutes federal crimes such as those involving firearms while delivering civil litigation services according to its official website. It also collaborates with agencies across East Texas’s counties supporting both victims and witnesses while enforcing federal law according to its official website.
Combs said achieving justice for victims remains their highest duty: “Achieving justice for victims and protecting their rights is our highest duty… we are honored to participate in the national observance of this special week.”
