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Press Release

San Jose Resident Sentenced To 80 Months In Prison For Being A Felon In Possession Of A Firearm

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of California

SAN JOSE – Josue Rocha-Vallejo was sentenced today to 80 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, announced United States Attorney Alex G. Tse and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett.  The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Edward J. Davila, United States District Judge.

Rocha-Vallejo, 27, of San Jose, Calif., pleaded guilty to the charge on November 30, 2017.  In pleading guilty, Rocha-Vallejo admitted that he possessed firearms and that he was a convicted felon not legally permitted to possess the firearms.  

In sentencing Rocha-Vallejo, Judge Davila found that the defendant possessed seven firearms, including two semi-automatic rifles, and a high capacity magazine—the magazine allowed the firearm to fire more than 15 bullets before having to be reloaded.  In addition, Judge Davila found that defendant was in possession of a gun that had been reported stolen. 

On May 18, 2017, a federal grand jury indicted Rocha-Vallejo, charging him with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1).  Rocha-Vallejo pleaded guilty to the charge.  

In addition to the prison term, Judge Davila sentenced the defendant to a three-year period of supervised release.  The defendant will begin serving the sentence immediately.

The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force with assistance from the San Jose Police Department and the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.
 

Updated November 7, 2018