Fitchburg Man Sentenced to 37 Months for Illegally Possessing Firearms

Madison, Wis. — John W. Vaudreuil, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Juan M. Gonzalez–Ruiz, 36, Fitchburg, Wis., was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 37 months in prison, without parole, for possessing firearms as a felon. Gonzalez–Ruiz pleaded guilty to this charge on August 7, 2012.

On October 19, 2011, Gonzalez–Ruiz was stopped in Fitchburg for driving on a suspended license. After issuing Gonzalez–Ruiz a citation, the officer was given consent to search the vehicle. During the search, the officer found two loaded firearms under the driver’s seat.

Gonzalez–Ruiz has prior convictions for aggravated assault in Puerto Rico, possession of a sawed–off shotgun and conspiracy to commit armed robbery in Massachusetts, and first degree reckless injury and aggravated battery in Wisconsin. Felons are prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.

The charges against Gonzalez–Ruiz were the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Fitchburg Police Department. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Munish Sharda.