A federal judge in Mobile handed down a 25-year prison sentence Monday to Marco Perez, the man accused of fatally shooting Mobile Police Officer Sean Tuder in 2019, after Perez was convicted on federal gun charges connected to the case.
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Beaverstock imposed the sentence following an emotional hearing that included testimony from Tuder’s mother, a cousin and a fellow officer, all of whom asked the court to impose the maximum penalty allowed by law. Perez was convicted of possession of a stolen firearm and receiving a firearm while under indictment, charges that stem from the same 2019 incident in which Tuder was killed while trying to serve an outstanding warrant.
According to court records, Tuder was off duty at his Mobile home when he received a call from a confidential informant on Jan. 21, 2019, indicating that Perez, who was wanted on outstanding gun-related warrants, had been located at Peach Place Apartments. Tuder, then 30, was in plainclothes and driving his personal vehicle when he went to the scene. He had coordinated with a supervisor and requested backup before the encounter turned deadly.
Perez still faces a separate state capital murder trial in connection with Tuder’s death. Beaverstock ordered that the 25-year federal sentence run consecutively with any sentence handed down in that case, meaning Perez would serve the full federal term in addition to any punishment imposed if he is convicted at trial.
The federal sentence breaks down to 60 months on the stolen-firearm count and 120 months on the charge of receiving a firearm while under indictment, with an additional 120 months added under federal sentencing enhancement guidelines.
Noreen Tuder, the officer’s mother, traveled from Jacksonville, Florida, to address the court. She described her son as someone who had dreamed since childhood of becoming a police officer and serving in the military, and said he found purpose in helping others. She asked Beaverstock to impose the harshest sentence available, telling the judge that while she hoped to one day find forgiveness, she would never forget what happened to her son.
Sean Tuder’s cousin, Anna Marron, also spoke at the hearing, describing him as part of a close-knit group of 13 cousins who called themselves “the wolfpack.” She remembered his humor and generosity and asked the court to apply the maximum sentence, saying her cousin would still be alive were it not for Perez’s actions.
Mobile Police Department Sgt. Patrick McKean, a 26-year veteran of the department who considered Tuder a friend and colleague, told the court that Tuder’s decision to serve in the military and in law enforcement reflected his commitment to his country, city and county. McKean urged Beaverstock to impose the strictest possible sentence, saying the loss continues to affect Tuder’s family and the entire police department.
Perez’s attorney, John Beck, argued for a lighter sentence of 10 to 15 years, contending that the two federal counts involved the same firearm and uninterrupted possession, and that stacking the sentences consecutively would be an error. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle O’Brien countered by pointing to an alleged assault Perez was accused of committing while held at Mobile County Metro Jail, arguing that his conduct behind bars supported consecutive sentences. Beaverstock ultimately sided with prosecutors.
Before issuing the sentence, Beaverstock told Perez he hoped he would find a way to move forward and make better choices, noting that he had observed several points during the case where Perez could have changed course but did not. The judge recommended Perez be placed in a federal facility equipped with mental health care resources and encouraged him to take advantage of programs designed to help him going forward.
Tuder’s death in January 2019 marked the second line-of-duty loss for the Mobile Police Department in less than a year, a toll that drew widespread grief across the Mobile area at the time and has continued to reverberate through the department and Tuder’s family as the case has moved through the courts.