Austin Man Sentenced to 12 Years After Barricade Standoff, Meth Use, and Armed Threats

A 38-year-old Austin man, Steven Moreno Briseno, was sentenced to 144 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, Briseno was arrested on November 30, 2023, following a barricaded standoff at his family’s residence. The incident began when Briseno, allegedly under the influence of methamphetamine, physically assaulted his wife before fleeing from responding officers.

Briseno initially ran into a vacant apartment, then returned to his residence and barricaded himself inside. Officers observed him through windows mounting a long rifle on a tripod, wearing a camouflaged tactical vest, smoking from a glass pipe resembling a meth pipe, and loading multiple firearms including rifles, handguns, and at least one shotgun.

He ignored repeated commands from officers and threatened to start shooting. At one point, he fired at least one round from inside the residence.

After APD SWAT responded and negotiated for several minutes, Briseno surrendered without further incident. Officers later found numerous firearms, loaded magazines, and boxes of ammunition inside the residence, including some staged near windows and the front door.

Briseno had multiple prior felony 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 conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Grant Sparks prosecuted the case. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas.