Felon heads to prison for violent carjacking attack

Press Release

HOUSTON - A 28-year-old Houston resident has been sentenced for carjacking during which one victim was repeatedly struck with a pistol, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Dominique Luis-Donte Quinones-Amos pleaded guilty Feb. 12.

U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen has now ordered Quinones-Amos to serve 108 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.

At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that detailed his arrests in the Los Angeles vicinity for burglary and grand theft auto. In handing down the sentence, the court noted his previous convictions which included one for felony assault of a family member impeding breathing or circulation in which the victim lost consciousness.

"Quinones-Amos engaged in a series of offenses that put the people of this district in danger in a variety of ways - a carjacking, brandishing a gun, using fully-automatic conversion devices and even financial crimes," said Hamdani. "This office will not allow such dangers to go unanswered, and today's sentence will keep the community safe for several years to come from this one-man wrecking crew."

As a convicted felon, Quinones-Amos was prohibiting from possessing a firearm or ammunition per federal law. However, law enforcement had discovered social media postings in which he appeared to be selling two firearms with extended magazines and firing a firearm with a machine gun conversion device (MCD) which makes a semi-automatic handgun operate as a fully automatic handgun.

Upon his arrest, authorities found him again in possession of another firearm.

During the investigation, law enforcement was able to tie Quinones-Amos to the violent carjacking that occurred Oct. 4, 2021.

On that date, two men were returning to an apartment complex located on Dunlap Street in a 2013 Dodge Avenger. Once they exited the vehicle into the parking lot, Quinones-Amos approached the two men, striking one in the face. That victim subsequently fled.

Quinones-Amos then pointed a firearm at the driver and struck him in his face with the gun multiple times. Quinones-Amos entered and drove off in the victim's vehicle while he laid motionless on the ground.

Law enforcement later recovered the vehicle and were able to link it to Quinones-Amos through DNA testing.

In addition, the investigation further revealed Quinones-Amos was selling fraudulent credit cards and money orders in the names of other people.

Quinones-Amos will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Houston Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Laurence Goldman prosecuted the case.

Updated November 18, 2024