Federal Court Sentences Three Individuals in Kidnapping and Carjacking Case

Introduction

On April 12 and April 26, 2024, U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier sentenced three individuals for their involvement in a kidnapping and carjacking case that took place near Red Shirt, South Dakota. The defendants, an El Salvadoran man, a Guatemalan man, and a woman from Colorado, were convicted of several offenses, including kidnapping, carjacking, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. This case was investigated by several law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security.

The Incident

On May 5, 2022, the defendants traveled from Greeley, Colorado, to South Dakota with the intention of trafficking controlled substances. During their trip, they encountered a South Dakota Highway Patrol officer and engaged in a high-speed chase. The defendants eluded the officer and hid in a remote area near Red Shirt, South Dakota. Later that night, they carjacked a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) employee who was driving his assigned vehicle. The defendants pointed firearms at the employee and ordered him to get out of his vehicle. They then robbed him of his personal belongings and took control of the vehicle, taking the employee hostage.

The Sentencing

In her sentencing comments, Judge Schreier declared that the defendants’ actions were among the most horrendous crimes she had seen as a judge. Deyvin Morales, the Guatemalan man, was sentenced to 47 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Juan Francisco Alvarez-Sorto, the El Salvadoran man, was sentenced to 35 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Karla Lopez-Gutierrez, the woman from Colorado, was sentenced to 26 ½ years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release.

The Impact of the Sentencing

These lengthy sentences reflect the severity of the crimes committed by the defendants. As U.S. Attorney Alison Ramsdell stated, “That men and women in law enforcement must face such profound risks to their lives while working to secure community safety is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.” This case reaffirms the FBI’s commitment to protecting its personnel from acts of violence and intimidation.

The Investigation

This case was investigated by several law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, the Rapid City Police Department, the Greeley, Colorado Police Department, and the Custer and Pennington County Sheriffs’ Offices.

Conclusion

The sentencing of these three individuals in the kidnapping and carjacking case near Red Shirt, South Dakota, sends a clear message that such crimes will not be tolerated. The defendants received lengthy sentences for their involvement in these heinous crimes, which reaffirms law enforcement’s commitment to ensuring the safety of its personnel and the communities they serve.

Originally Post From https://www.justice.gov/usao-sd/pr/two-men-and-woman-sentenced-decades-federal-prison-following-convictions-kidnapping-fbi

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