WESLACO – A jury sentenced a Weslaco man to 64 years in prison for murder and drug possession.

A jury was selected on June 20, 2022, and the trial was held from June 21, 2022, to June 23, 2022. The jury reached a verdict on June 23, 2022, and found Angel Herrera, 25, guilty of all three counts.  He was sentenced to 64 years for count 1 of Murder, 20 years for Count 2 possession of a controlled substance (cocaine), and one year, six months for count 3 possession of marijuana.

The case went before the Honorable Judge Bobby Flores of the 139th District Court. The case was prosecuted by Felony Division Assistant District Attorney’s Ben Abila and Jose Garcia; with assistance by Victim Unit Court Advocates Amanda Garza and Hector Garcia; the Weslaco Police Department; Texas Department of Public Safety Investigator Amanda Cholick; Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Lab staff Erika Saldivar and Norma Luna; and FBI Special Agent Matthew Allison.

“I commend ADA’s Ben Abila and Jose Garcia for prosecuting this case and obtaining justice for Mr. Salinas and his family,” said Criminal District Attorney Ricardo Rodriguez Jr. “I also want to thank the great investigative work by Weslaco Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, and the FBI.”

On June 8, 2020, Angel Herrera, armed with a 9mm Black Ruger handgun, shot Guadalupe Salinas, Jr. three times in Weslaco, Texas killing him. During Herrera’s arrest the Weslaco Police Department seized multiple baggies of marijuana and controlled substances in Herrera’s residence. With the assistance of the FBI, Herrera’s phone revealed a series of text messages between him and Salinas that showed a growing dispute between the two that led to the murder.