CORPUS CHRISTI, TX – Jason Jaime Merdes, a 44-year-old Corpus Christi resident, has been sentenced to 120 months in federal prison following his guilty plea for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani announced the sentence, followed by three years of supervised release.
Merdes is a contractor who failed to complete a job at a customer’s home. The customer of that home was his victim.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos handed down the sentence after considering the gravity of Merdes’ actions. The court was informed that Merdes not only possessed a firearm but also used it in a drive-by shooting. This incident occurred the day before his arrest, deeply impacting the lives of the victims involved. Two victims testified in court, recounting how the shooting, which took place close to where their children were sleeping, affected them.
The incident began on May 15 when gunshots awakened a homeowner at around 3 a.m. The police investigation revealed shell casings in the street and multiple bullet holes in the home and garage.
Merdes was identified as a potential suspect by the homeowner, who had previous dealings with him over an incomplete home repair job.
Surveillance footage from neighborhood cameras and subsequent police observations led to a traffic stop of Merdes, who was found with a gun holster and a firearm in his vehicle. A search at his residence uncovered nine additional firearms. Ballistic evidence linked one of the firearms to the shell casings found at the shooting scene, and two others matched bullet fragments recovered.
As a convicted felon, federal law prohibits Merdes from possessing firearms or ammunition. This sentence reflects the seriousness of firearm offenses and the impact of violent crimes on communities.