Vancouver, Washington Gang Member Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Illegal Gun Possession

            A 23-year-old Vancouver, Washington gang leader was sentenced today to five years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan.  CARLOS CARMONA-GONZALEZ was convicted Wednesday, February 12, 2014, following a two day jury trial.  At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Ronald B. Leighton noted that gangs are a serious problem that operate on fear and paralyze communities.  The judge imposed three years of supervised release following prison.

 In July 2013, CARMONA-GONZALEZ was seen by three police officers and one civilian eyewitness placing a rifle wrapped in a jacket in his friend’s car. The car was later stopped by police and officers recovered the pink rifle that had been wrapped in a jacket.  The rifle had been stolen from a garage.  CARMONA-GONZALEZ is a prominent member of the Surenos gang in the Southwest Washington region. CARMONA-GONZALEZ is prohibited from possessing firearms because he has four previous felony convictions, including possession of MDMA (Clark County 2011), attempted assault (Clark County 2009), Escape (Clark County 2008) and assault (Clark County 2008).  

CARMONA-GONZALEZ was investigated by the Longview Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (BATF) with assistance from the Vancouver Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Roscoe Jones and Jill Otake.