Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Illegal Possession of a Firearm Sends Local Man to Prison
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A previously convicted felon has been ordered to federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Cruz Edwardo Gonzalez, 30, of Corpus Christi, pleaded guilty Feb. 1, 2018, to a single count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Today, U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos sentenced Gonzalez to 84 months imprisonment to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.
In March 2017, authorities were attempting to serve an arrest warrant on Gonzalez for delivery of a controlled substance. The agents located and arrested him at his residence in Corpus Christi, at which time Gonzalez gave consent to search the location. Agents and officers soon discovered a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun with an obliterated serial number in his bedroom. Gonzalez, who had a previous felony conviction, is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition per federal law.
Gonzalez was arrested at the time of the offense and transferred into federal custody in December 2017 as part of a coordinated federal, state and local law enforcement effort known as Operation City Shield. The operation was designed to identify violent offenders, stop gun violence and protect the community.
Gonzalez has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be designated in the near future.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Corpus Christi Police Department conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lance Watt is prosecuting the case.