Tucson Man Found Guilty of Federal Firearms Charge After Local Domestic Violence Conviction

March 8, 2010 - TUCSON, Ariz. — A Tucson man prohibited from possessing firearms after a local domestic violence conviction was found guilty of a federal gun crime at trial. Rolando Roman Sanchez, 23, of Tucson, Ariz., was found guilty by a federal jury on February 25, 2010 of Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Possessor. The case was tried before United States District Court Judge Frank R. Zapata.

On March 7, 2009, Sanchez was the driver of a car stopped by law enforcement in Tucson for multiple traffic violations. Sanchez had a 9mm pistol loaded with 13 rounds of ammunition, and attempted to hide it when he was pulled over. Sanchez also had 250 additional rounds of rifle ammunition, which he had just purchased at a gun show at the Pima County Fairgrounds. Sanchez was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to a no-contact order issued by Tucson City Court as a result of a domestic violence conviction approximately one month prior.

Sentencing is set before Judge Zapata on May 10, 2010. Sanchez faces up to ten years in prison. The investigation leading to the conviction was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with assistance from the Arizona Department of Public Safety and Pima County Sheriff’s Department. The prosecution was handled by Angela Woolridge, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz.