FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

WEDNESDAY - December 12, 2007

FELON IN POSSESSION OF A FIREARM/ILLEGAL ALIEN PLEADS GUILTY

GREENVILLE - United States Attorney George E. B. Holding announced that in federal court today, HECTOR HERNANDEZ, an illegal alien, 37, of Raleigh, North Carolina, pleaded guilty before United States Magistrate Judge James E. Gates to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g).

On July 19, 2007, an off-duty Raleigh Police Officer was working security at Centro Cervezero El Deso bar on Capitol Blvd. The officer observed shots being fired out of a white cargo van traveling on Capital Boulevard. The officer pursued the van and stopped it. A .380 Taurus semi-automatic handgun and ammunition were found in the van. HERNANDEZ fled the scene but was arrested a short time later. HERNANDEZ confessed to firing the weapon. Sentencing is set for March 3, 2008.

The case was investigated by the Raleigh Police Department and was accepted for federal prosecution under Project Safe Neighborhood’s Zero Tolerance for gun violence. Assistant United States Attorney Jane Jackson is prosecution for the government.

News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.