Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News
HOUSTON – A 43-year-old man with ties to the Humble area has been sentenced for the assault of federal officer resulting in bodily injury, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
A federal jury deliberated for approximately two hours before convicting Cedric Tyrone Walker Aug. 20, 2024, following a two-day trial.
U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks has now ordered Walker to serve 97 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court considered the nature and extent of the injuries which caused permanent disfigurement. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that the federal law enforcement officer just showed up for work and then landed in the hospital as a result of Walker’s violent behavior.
“The Southern District of Texas (SDTX) has zero tolerance for violence against law enforcement,” said Ganjei. “They are heroes who put themselves in harm’s way every day. Today’s sentence demonstrates how SDTX will always have their backs.”
On Dec. 27, 2022, authorities learned that on two occasions Walker failed to return in a timely manner to the residential reentry center (RRC), also referred to as a halfway house, where he was serving a federal prison sentence for armed bank robbery.
Law enforcement told the RRC Walker needed to be transported back to a federal detention center. However, Walker was reluctant to comply with instructions from authorities and struck a deputy U.S. marshal (DUSM) in the mouth with a closed fist.
A struggle ensued on the ground, and authorities restrained Walker after two taser deployments. Law enforcement then took Walker to a federal detention center and he refused medical attention.
The injured DUSM arrived at the emergency room where he received treatment for a laceration on his lip which required 12 stitches. As a result of the assault, he also sustained two chipped teeth.
At the time of the trial, the defense attempted to convince the jury Walker did not cause the injury. They did not believe those claims and found him guilty as charged.
He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Wirsing prosecuted the case.