LOS ANGELES – A Riverside man who pleaded guilty to being a
convicted felon in possession of a stolen handgun has been sentenced to four
years in federal prison.
Joseph Sanchez, 37, received the 48-month sentence at a
hearing yesterday before United States District Judge Virginia A. Phillips.
Sanchez pleaded guilty on May 16 to one count of being a
felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
This case stemmed from a September 18, 2015 probation search
by the Riverside Police Department. When officers entered the residence,
Sanchez was sitting on a couch with a bag on his lap. Inside the bag, officers
found a loaded 9mm Glock. Investigators determined that the handgun was
reported stolen from a Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputy on July 3, 2015. In
addition to the loaded handgun, police also found Sanchez to be in possession
of another bag that contained another nine 9mm rounds.
“This defendant has a lengthy and serious criminal record
which disqualifies him from possessing a firearm,” said United States Attorney
Eileen M. Decker. “His new prison sentence was warranted because, not only was
he in possession of a handgun and ammunition, he knew the gun had been stolen
from a police officer and he was under court supervision at the time after
being convicted in a narcotics case.”
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives.
“Agents learned Mr. Sanchez did not hesitate to engage in
criminal activity, even after being previously convicted of similar offenses,”
said ATF Special Agent in Charge Eric D. Harden. “ATF will investigate and
pursue prosecution of those that continue to threaten the safety of our
neighborhoods.”
This case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States
Attorneys Stephen T. Merrill and Deana L. Bohenek of the Riverside Branch
Office.
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