United States Attorney James T. Jacks
Northern District of Texas

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txn/

SAN ANGELO, TEXAS, MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO
FEDERAL FIREARM OFFENSE

Defendant Involved in Traffic Stop in Concho, County, Texas
in Which DPS Trooper Was Shot

LUBBOCK, Texas — The driver of a vehicle whose passenger shot a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) trooper on New Year’s Eve, 2008, has pleaded guilty to a federal firearm charge, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. Dionisio Anibel Saucedo, Jr., 21, of San Angelo, Texas, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings to one count of aiding and abetting possession of an unregistered firearm, admitting that he aided and abetted Manuel Alcantar, Jr. in knowingly possessing an unregistered 12 gauge single-shot, sawed-off shotgun, with an obliterated serial number. Saucedo, who remains in custody, faces a maximum statutory sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Judge Cummings ordered a pre-sentence investigation with a sentencing date to be set after the completion of that report.

According to documents filed in court, on December 31, 2008, the San Angelo Police Department obtained an arrest warrant for Alcantar for shooting his estranged girlfriend and killing her mother and requested the assistance of local law enforcement in apprehending him. In response to that request, the Eden Police Department, Concho County Sheriff’s Office, and DPS set up a checkpoint on U.S. Highway 87 near Eden, Concho County, Texas.

A short time later, a 2005 Dodge Stratus driven by Saucedo arrived at the checkpoint; Alcantar was in the passenger seat. A DPS trooper conducted a stop of the vehicle during which Alcantar pulled out a shotgun and shot the trooper. The trooper returned fire and killed Alcantar.

Saucedo admitted that he knew Alcantar had shot two women in San Angelo. He also admitted that Alcantar came to his house with the weapon. Saucedo admitted that they then went to Alcantar’s apartment and then departed in Saucedo’s car, with Alcantar in possession of the shotgun.

Saucedo admitted that when they approached the checkpoint, Alcantar repeatedly told Saucedo not to stop. Alcantar stated that he was ready to use the gun, but Saucedo stated he did not know that Alcantar was going to shoot the DPS trooper.

The case is being investigated by the Texas Rangers, the San Angelo Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey R. Haag of the Lubbock, Texas, U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting.

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