A Honduran national responsible for multiple violent home invasions in Texas was sentenced to 29 years in prison on Aug. 16. He will not face removal proceedings until after his lengthy 348-month total prison term.
Denis Matute was sentenced to 29 years in prison for a home invasion that included a sadistic method.
Matute was part of a robbery crew involved in several crimes, including two violent robberies during which they brandished firearms, prosecutors said. One occurred at the A1 Flea Market in Houston. There, the crew handcuffed a security guard and proceeded to kick him while down. Authorities said they then robbed two separate booths and pointed guns at multiple individuals.
During the hearing, the judge commented on how Matute and his crew carjacked an individual at gunpoint en route to the robbery.
“At the hearing, the court heard evidence of the underlying offenses as well as the details surrounding three additional murders and two home invasions Matute had committed,” the Justice Department said in a press release.
Matute was convicted for his role in the robbery of the R&R Pawn Shop. He and his crew pointed guns at employees’ heads and smashed display cases to steal expensive watches and other items.
He will remain in custody pending transfer to a prison where he will stay for at least two decades before he is deported back to Honduras.
For more on this story, please consider these sources:
- Illegal immigrant in multiple violent, ‘sadistic’ Texas home invasions gets 29-year US prison sentence – Fox News
- Honduran responsible for multiple violent home invasions sentenced 29 years following HSI Houston-assisted investigation – USICE News Room