Mexican National Convicted of Southeast Texas Kidnapping

BEAUMONT, Texas – A 21-year-old Mexican national living in Liberty, Texas, has been convicted of federal kidnapping charges in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown today.                

Juan Carlos Saucedo-Meza was found guilty of kidnapping following a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone today.

According to information presented in court, beginning on Aug. 24, to Aug. 25, 2018, Saucedo-Meza kidnapped a woman from Liberty, Texas and transported her to Lake Charles, LA, against her will.   He was indicted by a federal grand jury on Sep. 5, 2018 and charged with kidnapping.

In connection with this incident, Saucedo-Meza is facing charges of aggravated sexual assault and aggravated kidnapping in Jefferson County, Texas. 

Under the federal statute, Saucedo-Meza faces up to Life in federal prison at sentencing.  The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.  A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, Lake Charles Police Department, and Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher T. Tortorice and K. P. Kennedy Gates.