| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 20, 2009 WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/CAN |
SAN JOSE, Calif. –Juan Antonio Cardenas was sentenced Monday to a statutory maximum 120 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm, United States Attorney Joseph P. Russoniello announced.
Cardenas, 39, of Santa Cruz, Calif., pleaded guilty on March 2, 2009, to one count of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1) - Felon in Possession of a Firearm. According to the plea agreement, Cardenas admitted that on August 11, 2005, the Santa Cruz Police Department executed a search warrant at his residence in Santa Cruz. Cardenas was at his residence when the search warrant was executed and in possession of eight firearms, including a Hi-Point, .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol. One of the firearms Cardenas possessed was stolen. Prior to possessing these firearms, Cardenas had been convicted of assault with a deadly weapon (non-firearm) in Santa Cruz County.
Cardenas was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 9, 2005. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Ronald M. Whyte. Judge Whyte also sentenced the defendant to a three year period of supervised release.
While on pre-trial release, Cardenas allegedly attempted to murder his brother as well as negligently discharged a firearm – in the process wounding his mother. Cardenas was shortly thereafter remanded into federal custody. Cardenas faces attempted murder charges in Santa Cruz county Superior Court related to that incident (see People v. Cardenas, Santa Cruz County case number F16163).
Joseph Fazioli is the Assistant United States Attorney who is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Legal Assistant Jeanne Carstensen. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and Explosives and the Santa Cruz Police Department.
Further Information:
Case #: CR 05-00718 RMW
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