FRESNO, CA—On Monday, United States District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill sentenced five Fresno residents for violations of federal firearm laws, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced. The defendants previously pleaded guilty in five separate cases. The cases were the product of investigations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Fresno Police Department. The investigations are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, which is a joint initiative to combat gang and gun violence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Sanchez prosecuted the cases.

Richard Diaz, 27, was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Jose Munoz Ramirez, 25, was sentenced to time served (six months in prison) for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Ernie Rodriguez, 39, was sentenced to six years and six months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Javier Lamadrid, 33, was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Andrew Cortez, 33, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for possession of a firearm in a school zone.

“ATF, in partnership with the FBI, the Fresno Police Department and the United States Attorney’s Office, continues to target armed criminals in an effort to help rid the community of its most violent offenders,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Jill A. Snyder.

“The FBI is committed to working with the Safe Streets Task Force and Project Safe Neighborhoods to identify and investigate those who present a significant threat to the safety of our community,” said Supervisory Special Agent Robert Guyton of the Fresno Resident Agency of the Sacramento FBI. “We thank the ATF and Fresno Police Department for their continued partnership in the effort to reduce violent crime in Fresno.”

“Removing violent and armed criminals from our community is our top priority. Thanks to Project Safe Neighborhoods and our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, these defendants will not be allowed to victimize members of our community for many years,” said Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer.