Man convicted of Intoxication Manslaughter, other charges sentenced to 20 years in prison

An El Paso jury has sentenced Brian Gamero to 20 years in prison.

Gamero was found guilty last Friday of Intoxication Manslaughter with Vehicle in the death of 22-year-old Crystal Saldana.

Police say Gamero was likely speeding when he hit Saldana’s car and sent it into oncoming traffic.

Saldana died at the scene.

Gamero was sentenced to 20 years on the Intoxication Manslaughter with Vehicle charge.

He was also sentenced to 10 years in prison for the Intoxication Assault with Vehicle conviction and 10 years in prison for Possession of a Controlled Substance PG 1 greater than or equal to 1 gram but under 4 grams. These two sentences are to be served concurrently with the Intoxication Manslaughter with Vehicle charge.

According to the affidavit, Gamero told police he was at Whataburger and two people were trying to “jump/kill” him and he was trying to get away from them.

The police officer says in the affidavit that he smelled alcohol on Gamero and that Gamero also had blood-shot eyes and spoke with slurred, mumbled speech. Police asked Gamero if he had been drinking and he said he had one drink, according to the affidavit.

Police then asked if he knew how fast he was going.

“Like 30-40 miles,” Gamero told the officer, according to the affidavit. The officer then told Gamero the speed limit is 50 mph on that stretch of road.

“Maybe faster to get rid of them,” Gamero told the officer, according to the affidavit.

Correction: A previous version of this story mistakenly stated Gamero was sentenced to 40 years in prison. We regret the error.