FRESNO, Calif. - Martin Patino Jr, 25, of Bakersfield, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill to five years and 11 months in prison for two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.
Patino pleaded guilty on Jan. 30, 2017. According to court documents, on Dec. 22, 2015, while law enforcement officers were preparing to execute a search warrant at Patino’s residence, they observed Patino exit the residence and walk over to an older model truck that had its front engine compartment hood open. Later, officers searched the truck and found a Black Rock Island Armory,.45‑caliber M1911 A1 handgun with an extended magazine under a sheet in the engine compartment. They also found an additional.45‑caliber handgun magazine at the property. Patino admitted that he was a previously convicted felon and that the firearm and ammunition were his.
On Feb. 12, 2016, law enforcement agents executed a federal search warrant at Patino’s residence and found a Ruger LCP.380 handgun, which was later determined to be stolen, inside a safe in the bedroom. They also found in the safe a 50-round box of Winchester 32 auto 71 grain ammunition and a Ruger brand magazine containing four rounds of ammunition.
According to the plea agreement, Patino admitted that he used or possessed these firearms in connection with the commission of a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
This case was the product of an investigation by the FBI Violent Crime Task Force, which includes the Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian K. Delaney prosecuted the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
