Madera Illegal Alien in Possession of Firearm and Ammo Convicted

55th Federal Conviction Stemming from Multi-agency Operation Trident

FRESNO, Calif. — United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that Julian Gonzalez–Jimenez, 24, of San Luis, El Petén, Guatemala, entered a guilty plea today to being an illegal alien in possession of a Ravens .25–caliber firearm and 77 rounds of .25–caliber ammunition when he was apprehended in connection with Operation Trident, a multi–agency marijuana enforcement effort in Madera, Fresno, and Tulare Counties in 2009 and 2010. To date, Operation Trident has resulted in the eradication of approximately 663,898 marijuana plants, primarily from public lands in the Sierra foothills and mountains in the Eastern District of California. Gonzalez–Jimenez’s guilty plea represents the 55th federal conviction as a result of Operation Trident.

This case is the product of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Madera Narcotic Enforcement Team (MADNET), and Madera County Sheriff’s Department under the umbrella of Operation Trident. Other agencies that participated in Operation Trident include the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar.

According to court documents, Gonzalez–Jimenez was apprehended while he was a passenger in a car headed for Oakhurst. Both he and the driver gave permission for Madera County Sheriff deputies to search the vehicle.

Gonzalez–Jimenez is scheduled to be sentenced on June 6, 2011 by Senior U.S. District Judge Oliver W. Wanger. He faces a maximum prison term of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory sentencing factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. Gonzalez–Jimenez remains detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service, having been ordered detained last June as a flight risk. Upon completion of his prison term, he faces deportation.