Steven Moreno Briseno, 38, of Austin, was sentenced to 144 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of felon in possession of firearms.
Court documents reveal that police arrested Briseno on November 30, 2023, following a barricaded standoff at his family’s residence. The incident began when Briseno, apparently under the influence of methamphetamine, beat his wife before escaping from officers.
Briseno first escaped into a vacant apartment, then returned home and barricaded himself inside. Officers saw him through windows putting a long rifle on a tripod, wearing camouflaged tactical gear, smoking from a glass pipe that resembled a meth pipe, and loading various weaponry, including rifles, handguns, and at least one shotgun.
He disobeyed repeated orders from officers and threatened to shoot. At one point, he shot at least one round from within the home.
After APD SWAT arrived and negotiated for many minutes, Briseno surrendered without incident. Officers then discovered multiple firearms, loaded magazines, and ammunition boxes inside the home, including some positioned near windows and the front entrance.
Briseno had several prior criminal convictions, including a burglary conviction on November 30, 2022. He pleaded guilty on January 15, 2025.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Austin Police Department performed the investigation. Grant Sparks, an assistant United States attorney, prosecuted the case. The statement was delivered by Margaret Leachman, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas.
