Rock Island Felon to Serve Nine Years in Prison for Illegal Gun Possession

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. - Chief U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid today sentenced Gregory Michael Terronez, 31, of Rock Island, Ill., to 110 months (9 years, 2 months) in federal prison for illegal possession of a firearm by a felon. Terronez was ordered to remain on supervised release for two years following his release from prison. Terronez has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since he was arrested on Jan. 29, 2018.

On May 16, 2018, Terronez plead guilty to illegally possessing a Ruger LCR .38 Special revolver in November 2017. According to court documents, the gun’s serial number was obliterated. Terronez has four prior felony convictions, including convictions, one in 2010 and another in 2015, for distribution of cocaine. In support of its sentence recommendation, the government cited the defendant’s own admission that he has little employment history, other than as a drug dealer, and Terronez’s admission that after he was released from prison in May 2017, he supported himself by selling crack cocaine.  

The case was investigated by the Rock Island Police Department and ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney John K. Mehochko prosecuted the case in cooperation with the Rock Island County State’s Attorney’s Office.