McALLEN, Texas – A 32-year-old Donna man has been sentenced
in federal court for being a felon unlawfully in possession of a firearm,
announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Joaquin Ramos De La Cruz pleaded
guilty Sept. 1, 2017.
Today, U.S. District Judge Randy Crane handed De La Cruz a
sentence of 204 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three
years of supervised release. De La Cruz had previously been convicted for
numerous criminal offenses, including aggravated robbery, aggravated assault
and attempted murder.
The court found him to be an armed career criminal. In
handing down the sentence, Judge Crane considered De La Cruz’s disregard for
human life displayed in his prior criminal conduct in which he discharged
firearms at multiple individuals in separate criminal episodes. The court also
considered several jail calls the defendant made in which he threatened others
with death while awaiting sentencing.
On Jan. 17, 2017, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) and the
Law Enforcement Emergency Regional Response Team (LEERT) attempted to execute
an arrest warrant for De La Cruz at a residence in Donna. While authorities
entered the residence, De La Cruz discharged multiple rounds from a Ruger,
Model P95, 9mm pistol in an attempt to exit through a locked rear door to the
residence. De La Cruz eventually exited, but was promptly apprehended. Agents
recovered the Ruger 9mm pistol at the scene.
As a convicted felon, he is prohibited by federal law of
possessing any firearm or ammunition.
In federal custody since his arrest, De La Cruz will remain
in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be
determined in the near future.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
conducted the investigation with the assistance of the USMS and LEERT.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Roberto Lopez Jr. prosecuted the case.
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