Press Release
Oakland Norteño Associate Possessing Firearms and Cocaine Near School Sentenced to More than 7 Years in Prison
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of California
OAKLAND - Cristian Quintero-Felix was sentenced yesterday to 87 months in prison, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine within 1000 feet of St. Elizabeth’s High School, possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and felon in possession of firearms, announced United States Attorney Melinda Haag and Tatum King, Acting Special Agent in Charge for U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations San Francisco.
On April 10, 2014, a federal grand jury returned a Superseding Indictment charging Quintero-Felix, a 25 year-old resident of Oakland and Alameda, for being a felon in possession of firearms, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1), possession with intent to distribute cocaine within 1000 feet of a school, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 860, and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). On September 14, 2014, Quintero-Felix pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms, but demanded a trial with respect to the other charges.
After a two week jury trial, Quintero-Felix was convicted on November 14, 2014, of possession with intent to distribute cocaine within 1000 feet of St. Elizabeth’s High School and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. During the trial, evidence showed that the defendant was directly across the street from St. Elizabeth’s High School carrying a backpack with two loaded firearms-- one with one round already in the chamber-- as well as numerous pre-packaged baggies of cocaine for sale and packaging paraphernalia.
The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Phyllis J. Hamilton, U.S. District Court Chief Judge. Chief Judge Hamilton also sentenced the defendant to a six year period of supervised release. Due to Quintero-Felix’ association with Norteños, the sentence handed down by Chief Judge Hamilton included a provision the he may not associate with Norteño gang members or any other gang members during the period of his supervised release. The defendant will begin serving his sentence immediately.
Cynthia Frey and Joseph Alioto, Jr., are the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who prosecuted the case with the assistance of Kurt Kosek and Ponly Tu. The prosecution is the result of the efforts and investigation by the Department of Homeland Security and the Oakland Police Department. This case is the result of efforts by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Homeland Security Investigations, and Oakland Police Department as part of efforts to get guns off the streets of Oakland and to keep school zones safe.
Updated March 12, 2015
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