Del Rio Gang Member Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Firearm Theft that Led to 2019 Murder

DEL RIO, Texas - A Del Rio man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 120 months in prison for possession of a stolen firearm.

According to court documents, Jaime Rivera, 49, burglarized a U.S Border Patrol agent's home in April 2019, and stole nine firearms. Rivera and a codefendant, Manuel Angel Lomas aka Emanuel Lomas, sold several of the firearms, one of which was used by codefendant Robert Evans Jr. to murder Amanda Riojas. The weapon was disposed of and recovered in the San Felipe Creek.

"Jaime Rivera sold several firearms that he had stolen from a federal agent, which ultimately played a part in the murder of a 26-year-old Del Rio woman," said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. "I thank our partners at Homeland Security Investigations for their investigative work in this case, and the Val Verde County Sheriff's Office for their vital collaboration that led to these arrests and successful prosecutions."

"This sentence represents another important stride in the tireless work by HSI and its law enforcement partners to target and ultimately dismantle the transnational street gangs that are spreading crime and violence throughout our communities," said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee for HSI San Antonio. "Our efforts to combat this threat are still very much ongoing. To gang members who are still out there committing crimes, HSI sends a clear message: 'The long arm of the law will reach you, and you too will face the consequences of your egregious behavior."

Evans Jr. and Lomas were indicted alongside Rivera in 2019. On Sept. 14, 2022, Evans Jr. was sentenced to 120 months in prison with credit for time served. Lomas remains in federal custody and is scheduled to be sentenced July 26. In 2022, Evans Jr. was also sentenced in state court to serve 45 years in state prison, which he'll serve after his federal imprisonment.

HSI led investigation with valuable assistance from the Val Verde County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Josh Garland and Rex Beasley prosecuted the case.

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