Artist Des Sanchez Estrada Sentenced to 30 Years for Transporting Zines
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This week’s comic-related rabbit hole is a somber one. I saw a Bluesky post about the sentencing of Texas tattoo artist Des Sanchez Estrada who was accused of transporting zines in his car. That post by Eisner-nominated author and artist Ryan Estrada (no relation) gained a lot of traction. He tells me he felt compelled to spread the word because “I am also a cartoonist named Estrada who makes comics about fighting fascism with my wife and join protests and banned book clubs.” After reading more about Des’ case, I too think it’s worth understanding because Des and others are being used as examples to any American who takes for granted their first amendment rights to protest our government, and their right to create or distribute art or information.
The “Facts” of the Case
Last year, several individuals, including Des’ wife Maricela Rueda, attended what they maintain was supposed to be a peaceful “noise demonstration” at the ICE Prairieland Detention Center outside of Dallas. It started with chants and lighting fireworks, but things started to escalate. Individuals at the protest began to vandalize parked cars and an empty guard station. ICE officers called in the local police. An officer arrived and was shot (luckily survived). Some participants were arrested on site, others the next day. Des did not attend the protest.
After President Trump declared Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization the Department of Justice claimed these individuals were part of a North Texas Antifa Cell (Antifa Cell).
While incarcerated Maricela called Des. The call was recorded. According to Reason magazine she told Des to do “whatever you need to do” and “move whatever you need to move at the house.” Des complied. His car was stopped and searched. The U.S. District Court for Northern District of Texas Fort Worth described the contents “a box that contained numerous Antifa materials, such as insurrection planning, anti-law enforcement, anti-government, and anti-immigration enforcement documents and propaganda.” He was arrested and indicted with one count of “corruptly concealing a document or record.”
The Facts of the Case
The Trump Administration is making an example of this prosecution. The grand jury indictment declares Antifa is a terrorist organization with a goal to “overthrow of the United States Government, law enforcement authorities, and the system of law.” It’s a stretch to call individuals protesting the round-up and incarceration of migrants as a group wanting to overthrow the government, but here we are.
The sentencing of all the defendants related to the case is an exercise of government abuse. For instance, married couple Ines and Elizabeth Soto were charged and sentenced with 1) providing material support to terrorists, 2) conspiracy to use and carry an explosive, and 3) using and carrying an explosives. The facts are they had in their garage a commercial copy machine, paper cutting equipment and a book binder. According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the prosecution couldn’t even prove that the printing press was used to print any of the anti-government zines, nor could they prove that the contents of the zines were not protected under the first amendment. The “explosives” used in two of the counts against them were fireworks. The two left the scene when the protest went out of control. For owning a printing press and lighting fireworks, Elizabeth was sentenced to 50 years. Her husband will be sentenced on July 1. They have one child.
The “Antifa materials” in the box Des was transporting included zines, illustrations, stickers, and tattoo flash sheets criticizing ICE and police. None of the items are against the law to create, distribute or transport. He was accused of doing the same thing that Waltine Nauta and Carlos de Oliveira did when they allegedly moved classified documents per Trump’s orders when Trump was on trial accused of hoarding classified documents. Had the case against Nauta and de Oliveira not been dismissed by Trump’s Justice Department and found guilty they would have likely faced 20 years under normal sentencing guidelines. Twenty years for moving classified documents. Des is facing 30 for zines and tattoo art.
Des and the others will appeal their conviction. It will be a long-shot to find relief in the current judiciary. Their likely relief will come only with a future pardon by a Democratic president. Until then, feel free to support Des. Visit Free Des! for more information about Des and his case. There is also a GoFundMe campaign to help pay his legal fees if you can help. As of this writing $52,233 has been raised for the estimated $80k needed.
You can also visit Support the Prairieland Defendants to learn more and I think printing and distributing zines to raise awareness of the defendants’ cases is an appropriate action to take.
Lastly, prior to Trump’s election there was a chorus of individuals who warned our first amendment rights in America would be attacked by his administration. “See I told you so” moments like this do not feel like victories.
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