Gang Leader

Federal Jury Convicts Gang Leader on Firearms Offenses


April 20, 2010 - WICHITA FALLS, TX—Cristobal Meza, III, 34, of Wichita Falls, Texas, was convicted at trial last week by a federal jury in U.S. District Court in Wichita Falls on two counts of an indictment charging firearms offenses, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. Meza, an armed career criminal, is a leader in the Varrio Carnales street gang that operates in Wichita Falls and a member of Barrio Azteca, a violent prison gang.

The jury convicted Meza on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition. He faces a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison and a $500,000 fine. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor on August 17, 2010.

The government presented evidence at trial that Meza was arrested by officers of the Wichita Falls Police Department pursuant to a search warrant that was executed at his home on Fillmore Street in Wichita Falls on July 23, 2009. A stolen Mossburg pistol-grip shotgun and shotgun ammunition were discovered at the residence during the search. Meza has prior felony convictions for four counts of aggravated assault, two counts of delivery of cocaine, and evading arrest by motor vehicle.

The case was investigated by the Wichita Falls Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the FBI.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Taly Haffar and Cara Pierce are prosecuting.