CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A federal grand jury in Corpus Christi has returned an indictment against two local men for multiple felonies, including carjacking and weapons charges, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
The six-count indictment was returned today against Carlos Moreno, 25, and Leonard Reyna, 24, both of Corpus Christi. They are charged with robbery, carjacking, brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence each for being previously convicted felons in possession of firearms.
Reyna was already in custody on the charges and is expected to make his initial appearance before a U.S. magistrate judge in the near future. Moreno is considered a fugitive and a warrant remains outstanding for his arrest. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact the U.S. Marshals service at 1-800-336-0102.
According to the allegations, on Aug. 26, 2018, the Corpus Christi Police Department (CCPD) responded to an aggravated robbery at the Corpus Christi Trade Center located in the 2800 block of South Padre Island Drive. Upon arrival, officers discovered that a group of males had allegedly approached a local jewelry store displaying handguns and demanded several items of jewelry. The men then fled on foot out the back alley of the location, according to the criminal complaint, originally filed on the case. At the scene, officers allegedly recovered several rounds of 9mm and.45 caliber ammunition and a set of keys belonging to a nearby vehicle.
Court documents further allege that as officers continued to investigate, CCPD received another call, this time involving a shooting at the Stripes convenience store located in the 6000 block of Ayers. When officers responded to that location, they found a victim laying inside the store, according to the charges. He claimed he had been parked in his vehicle when two males approached and pointed a gun at him, demanding the keys to his truck. He refused. The charges allege that one of the men then fired, striking the victim in the left arm and stomach. The two males then allegedly fled the location.
Court records indicate that witnesses at the scene provided a physical description of the males that matched the suspects at the earlier Trade Center robbery.
If convicted of carjacking, both men face up to 25 years in federal prison, while the robbery carries up to 20 years of imprisonment. For being felons in possession of firearms, they could also receive a 10-year-maximum term of imprisonment. For brandishing and discharging a weapon during a crime of violence, the punishment is seven and 10 years minimum, respectively, which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed. In addition, each charge carries a possible fine of up to $250,000
CCPD and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lance Watt is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
