Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Hugo J. Barrera, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Ric L. Bradshaw, Sheriff, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO), announce that Jose Nunez, 23, of Belle Glade, Florida, was sentenced to 228 months (19 years) in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, by U.S. District Judge Kenneth Marra.
On March 20, 2013, PBSO Gang Detectives investigated a shooting that occurred in Belle Glade, Florida. Detectives determined that Jose Nunez was involved in a verbal confrontation with another individual that escalated once Nunez removed a semi-automatic pistol from his waistband and pointed the firearm at the victim, firing one round into the ground. Gang detectives subsequently obtained a warrant for his arrest.
Agents of the PBSO Tactical Unit and U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested Nunez due to an active warrant stemming from the shooting investigation. As the agents conducted a search incident to arrest they noticed that Nunez was wearing a bullet proof vest under his shirt and was in possession of cocaine, hydrocodone, morphine, alprazolam, marijuana, brass knuckles, and U.S. currency. The agents also located the semi-automatic pistol used in the March 20, 2013 shooting in Nunez’s possession.
A federal grand jury indicted Nunez on May 21, 2013, charging him with five counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. In July 2013, Nunez pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
Today at his sentencing, the court found Nunez qualified as a career offender based on his prior felony convictions, and this status subjected him to enhanced penalties.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of ATF, PBSO, and U.S. Marshal’s Service. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John McMillan.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
