Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Motorcycle Gang Member Heads to Prison for Illegally Possessing Ammunition
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 37-year-old Corpus Christi resident who was involved in a shooting at a local convenience store has been sentenced following his conviction of unlawful ammunition possession, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.
Billy Boortz, a member of the Homietos outlaw motorcycle gang and former member of the Mexican Mafia gang, pleaded guilty July 24.
Today, U.S. District Judge David S. Morales handed him a 110-month sentence to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Boortz intentionally tried to murder the victim in this case. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Boortz fired his pistol directly at the victim, not in the air or at the ground, and that the offense would have constituted attempted second degree murder.
On May 11, Boortz was engaged in a physical altercation with another man. He then returned to a vehicle, retrieved a weapon and fired several rounds at the victim, hitting the victim’s vehicle and striking the victim in the foot.
Agents were able to identify Boortz using video footage. He had been taken into custody at a local hospital on May 26, where he was treated for a gunshot wound he received after another shooting.
Boortz was previously convicted of multiple felony offenses, including aggravated assault, aggravated assault on a public servant, evading arrest with a vehicle and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. He is, therefore, prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition per federal law.
He has been and 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 and the Corpus Christi Police Department Gang Unit conducted the investigation.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Paxton prosecuted the case.
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