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Las Cruces man that attacked off-duty border patrol agent with machete found guilty of kidnapping, carjacking

Fernando Puga
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Fernando Puga

EL PASO, Texas – A federal jury Tuesday convicted Fernando Angel Puga of kidnapping and carjacking in a brutal attack against an off-duty border patrol agent, according to federal officials.

Officials say Puga, 36, and his co-defendant, Sergio Ivan Quiñonez-Venegas, 38, approached the agent working at a food truck on June 9, 2017. According to ABC-7 archives, the agent was helping his mother at her tamales stand.

Documents reveal how investigators found men accused of kidnapping, assaulting BP agent

Officials say the pair told the victim he was being kidnapped and forced him at gunpoint and knifepoint to drive them from El Paso to Las Cruces.

Officials say once in Las Cruces, Puga struck and stabbed the victim multiple times, causing skull and arm fractures and severe puncture wounds and cuts to his body and hands.

Puga's sentencing date has not been set. He faces up to life in prison for the kidnapping charge, up to 25 years in prison for the carjacking charge, and up to 10 years for the stolen vehicle charge.

Quiñonez-Venegas is scheduled to be sentenced on July 28, after pleading guilty to one count of carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury.

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