Felon ordered to prison for illegally owning rifles and shotguns

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 32-year-old Alvin resident has been sent to prison following his conviction of being a felon in possession of multiple firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Alonzo Gonzalez III pleaded guilty March 22.

Today, U.S. District Judge Nelva Ramos ordered Gonzalez to serve 180 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence about the impact the theft of some of the guns that Gonzalez possessed had on the victim.

On March 10, 2021, authorities pulled over a vehicle for having an expired Texas temporary tag. Alonzo Gonzalez III was a passenger in the vehicle.

Law enforcement officers noticed the occupants of the vehicle were behaving suspiciously and brought a K-9 to the scene. The K-9 alerted to the rear of the vehicle. A subsequent search resulted in the discovery of seven firearms concealed inside the trunk. Those included two 12-gauge shotguns, a .243 rifle, .223-5.56 rifle and three 7.62x54R rifles. Authorities later determined that two of the weapons were stolen.

At the time of his plea, Gonzalez admitted he had placed the firearms in the trunk and planned to sell them in South Texas.

Gonzalez will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Kleberg County Attorney Specialized Crimes & Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda L. Gould prosecuted the case.