Special to The News

BEAUMONT — A 21-year-old Mexican national living in Liberty was convicted on federal kidnapping charges in the Eastern District of Texas, U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown said Wednesday.

Juan Carlos Saucedo-Meza was found guilty of kidnapping following a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone, according to an issued statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

According to information presented in court, beginning on Aug. 24 to Aug. 25, 2018, Saucedo-Meza kidnapped a woman from Liberty and transported her to Lake Charles, Louisiana, against her will. A federal grand jury indicted him on the charge Sep. 5.

In connection with this incident, Saucedo-Meza faces charges of aggravated sexual assault and aggravated kidnapping in Jefferson County.

Under the federal statute, Saucedo-Meza faces up to life in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office

This case was investigated by the FBI, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, Lake Charles Police Department and Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher T. Tortorice and K.P. Kennedy Gates prosecuted the case.