by | Published
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – A Bexar County judge has sentenced Anthony Watson Jr. to 45 years in prison for his role in a deadly robbery scheme that left two men dead and another seriously injured.
Judge Joel Perez of the 437th District Court handed down the sentence after prosecutors detailed how Watson, along with co-defendants Daquan Ruffin and Dontrae Suarez, staged a fake car sale in the summer of 2023 to rob sellers Fernando Martinez and 26-year-old Ricardo De La Fuente.
When the group met for what the victims believed was a legitimate sale, the deal quickly unraveled into violence. Fernando was severely injured during the attempted robbery, and Ricardo shot and killed Suarez in self-defense. Watson then shot and killed Ricardo before fleeing the scene. Ricardo died where he fell.
Detectives recovered Watson’s cellphone, spent shell casings, and other key evidence, and Fernando provided investigators with a full account of the ambush.
Assistant Criminal District Attorneys Neal Cordero and Nick Mahrou prosecuted the case with support from Victim Advocate Rachel Garcia and Investigator Anthony Reed.
“There are no winners in a case like this,” said Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales. “Two young lives were lost in moments of violence that should never have happened. The defendant must now live with the consequences of the pain he caused, and our thoughts remain with the families who continue to carry this grief. Our office remains steadfast in pursuing accountability and working toward safer communities for everyone.”
