Texas man gets life in prison over carjackings

MCALLEN, TX

Federal prosecutors in McAllen say 27-year-old Jose Antonio Armendariz of Penitas was sentenced Wednesday.

A jury in May found Armendariz guilty of two 2006 carjackings, a 2006 hostage taking and the 2009 attempting carjacking of an agent driving his 10-year-old daughter from Arizona to Texas. Armendariz was also convicted of three firearms violations.

Investigators have said members of a trafficking gang mistook the agent's vehicle as one believed to be hauling drug money. The agent noticed he was being followed and displayed his gun, while contacting Mission police. He and his daughter weren't hurt.

Armendariz was the last of eight suspects sent to prison in the case.

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