December 5, 2008
WELD COUNTY MAN SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR POSSESSING AND DISCHARGING A SAWED-OFF SHOTGUN WITHIN A 1,000 FEET OF A SCHOOL
DENVER – Ismael Lee Rodriguez, age 22, of Greeley, Colorado, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Philip A. Brimmer to serve 57 months (over 4 years) in federal prison for possessing and discharging a firearm within a 1,000 feet of a school zone, United States Attorney Troy A. Eid and ATF Special Agent in Charge Richard E. Chase announced. Following his prison term, Rodriguez was ordered by Judge Brimmer to serve 3 years on supervised release. Rodriguez was remanded into custody to begin serving his sentence immediately.
Ismael Lee Rodriguez was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver on July 8, 2008. He pled guilty before former Chief U.S. District Court Judge Edward W. Nottingham on September 11, 2008. He was sentenced by Judge Brimmer today, December 5, 2008.
According to the stipulated facts contained in the defendant’s plea agreement, on May 31, 2008, Greeley Police officers arrested Rodriguez after conducting an investigation into a report of shots being fired in the area of 25th Avenue and 4th Street in Greeley. Upon arrival at the shots fired call, Greeley Police found a 20 gauge shotgun shell on Rodriguez’s person. Several more shells were found on the ground. A search of the area resulted in officers locating a sawed-off shotgun. The defendant’s friend advised the police that Rodriguez fired two rounds behind Madison Elementary School at night.
“We’ve increased federal law enforcement resources in Greeley to fight violent crime, and targeting illegal firearms like sawed-off shotguns is part of our strategy,” said U.S. Attorney Troy Eid.
“Today ATF and our law enforcement colleagues are reinforcing the message that we will not tolerate gang related violence and if they do not stop terrorizing our neighborhoods, the combined resources, expertise, and efforts of federal, state and local law enforcement will address their illicit activity and bring them to justice,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Richard Chase.
This case was investigated by the Greeley Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Rodriguez was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Sibert.
This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhood initiative, a collaborative effort by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and communities to prevent and deter gun violence.
####
