Houston Republic

A Houston resident has been sentenced to 108 months in federal prison for a violent carjacking incident. Dominique Luis-Donte Quinones-Amos, aged 28, was involved in a carjacking where a victim was repeatedly struck with a pistol. U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani announced the sentencing.

Quinones-Amos had pleaded guilty on February 12 and will serve three years of supervised release following his prison term. U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen considered Quinones-Amos's criminal history during sentencing, which included arrests for burglary and grand theft auto in Los Angeles, as well as a felony assault conviction involving impeding breathing or circulation.

"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."

Despite being prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition due to his status as a convicted felon, Quinones-Amos was found with firearms. Social media postings showed him selling firearms with extended magazines and using a machine gun conversion device.

The violent carjacking occurred on October 4, 2021, when two men returned to an apartment complex on Dunlap Street in their Dodge Avenger. Quinones-Amos attacked them, striking one man before stealing their vehicle after assaulting the driver with a firearm.

Law enforcement linked Quinones-Amos to the crime through DNA evidence recovered from the stolen vehicle. Further investigation revealed he was involved in selling fraudulent credit cards and money orders under other people's names.

The Houston Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation into Quinones-Amos's activities. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Laurence Goldman prosecuted the case.

Quinones-Amos remains in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.