Texas Man Sentenced in a Federal Court in Louisiana for Domestic Violence on New Orleans-Based Cruise Ship

New Orleans, Louisiana – On August 23, 2022, U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that Geronimo Flores, age 30, of Abilene, Texas, was sentenced in a federal court in Louisiana on August 18, 2022, to serve 54 months (4 years, 6 months) imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release on each count, to run concurrently. He must additionally pay an obligatory special assessment cost of $100.00 for each count. Flores was convicted guilty of both felony charges after a three-day federal jury trial in Louisiana. The jury found Flores guilty of domestic violence by strangulation and suffocation in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 113(a)(8) and 7(8) and interstate domestic violence in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2261(a)(1), 2261(b)(5), and 7(8).

Flores attacked his romantic and dating partner on the Carnival Glory cruise ship on December 2, 2021. During a trip that began and ended in the Port of New Orleans, the Glory was under the exclusive maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. The victim stated during the trial that Flores became physically abusive with her during an altercation in their cabin aboard the Glory. Flores struck her in the head and strangled her with a choke hold at the end of the altercation. Three members of the Glory crew’s security team testified about her injuries. The medical officer who examined the victim for The Glory testified that the victim’s bruises, swelling, and other symptoms were consistent with the stated incident in her professional opinion.

U.S. Attorney Evans applauded the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s work in investigating this case. He also expressed gratitude to agents and staff from the Department of Homeland Security for their support during the trial. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Charles D. Strauss and Christopher D. Usher II.

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Texas Man Convicted by Federal Jury in Louisiana for Domestic Violence Aboard a Cruise Ship, Faces up to 15 Years in Prison