Skip to main content
Press Release

Federal Judge in Del Rio Sentences Kickapoo Man to Twelve Years Imprisonment in Connection with the Death of a Fellow Tribe Member

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Texas

In Del Rio today, U.S. District Judge Alia Moses sentenced 44–year-old Adan Suke, Jr., a member of the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas (KTTT), to 12 years in federal prison in connection with the death of a fellow tribe member in November 2006, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs, San Antonio Division. 

In addition to the prison term, Judge Moses ordered that Suke pay a $3,000 fine and be placed on supervised release for a period of three years after completing his prison term.

On June 19, 2019, a federal jury convicted Suke of voluntary manslaughter, assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.  Evidence presented at trial revealed that, on November 3, 2006, Suke struck fellow tribe member Carlos Trevino multiple times with a blunt object during an argument on KTTT land near Eagle Pass, Texas.  Mr. Trevino suffered grievous injuries, including a skull fracture, and passed away at a San Antonio area hospital approximately two weeks later.

Although he was indicted for this offense in 2008, Suke fled the country immediately afterwards and had been living on tribal land in Nacimiento, Mexico, for over ten years.  FBI agents were able to extradite him back to the U.S. in August of 2018, where he was detained until his trial the following June.    

The FBI, Maverick County Sheriff’s Office, KTTT Security Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Harle and Justin Chung prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

#####

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

Updated October 6, 2020

Topics
Indian Country Law and Justice
Violent Crime