Stockton Man Sentenced To Over Three Years In Prison Possessing Sawed Off Shotgun

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jorge Leal, 21, of Stockton, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Troy L. Nunley to three years and one month in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for possessing an unregistered sawed-off shotgun, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

According to court documents, On December 2, 2013, Stockton police officers pulled over Leal, who was bicycling down N. Wilson Way in Stockton at night without a light. Leal was wearing a backpack that contained a sawed-off shotgun. Because Leal was a convicted felon—he had been convicted of first degree burglary in February 2012—he was prohibited from possessing a firearm. Further, because the sawed-off shotgun had a shortened barrel, Leal was required to register the firearm on the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. The firearm, however, was not registered. Leal has been in custody since making an initial appearance on these charges.

This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive and the Stockton Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Christiaan Highsmith prosecuted the case.