Mexican National Sentenced to a Total 44 Years for Murder and Possessing a Firearm as an Illegal Alien

Jackson, MS – A Mexican national was sentenced today to 34 years in prison for murder, which occurred on the Natchez Trace Parkway, after being sentenced previously to 10 years in prison for possessing a firearm as an illegal alien.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 23, 2018, Cristian Mitchel Mondragon Gonzales, 30, while unlawfully in the United States, had an altercation with the victim following a party at a residence where they both lived. The victim left the residence and Mondragon Gonzales sought after him and found him. He convinced the victim to go for a ride with him. He then drove the victim to a location on the Natchez Trace Parkway where they both got out of the car. Mondragon Gonzales shot the unarmed victim multiple times. After shooting the victim, Mondragon Gonzales took the victim’s identification. The victim was discovered the following morning by an individual walking along a trail on the Natchez Trace Parkway. Despite the victim having no identification, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Ridgeland Police Department were able to identify the victim and, within 24 hours, locate and identify Mondragon Gonzales as the shooter.

On October 1, 2019, Mondragon Gonzales pled guilty in federal court to possessing a firearm as an illegal alien, and on August 25, 2020, he was sentenced to serve 10 years in prison.

On November 14, 2024, Mondragon Gonzales pled guilty in federal court to second-degree murder and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime—murder, and on August 14, 2025, he was sentenced to an additional 34 years in prison which will be served consecutively to the sentence imposed in 2020.

Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Robert Eikhoff, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Jackson Office, made the announcement.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Natchez Trace Parkway Police, and the Ridgeland Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).