Tampa, Florida - U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Kovachevich today sentenced former Latin Kings game member Anibal Angel Rios-Mulero (33, Tampa) to nine years and nine months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking offense. The Court also ordered him to forfeit the firearms and ammunition.
Rios Mulero pleaded guilty on Oct. 16, 2017.
According to court documents, on Nov. 12, 2015, Rios-Mulero, a convicted felon, possessed and fired a Taurus.380 caliber pistol during an altercation outside his residence. After the shooting, law enforcmeent officers went to Rios-Mulero’s house and seized a.380 caliber shell casing in the driveway, and a another.380 caliber shell casing around the sidewalk area in front of the house. Two days later, on Nov. 14, 2015, officers searched Rios-Mulero’s house and found a loaded black Taurus.380 caliber pistol, ammunition, and 56 baggies bags of heroin packaged for distribution in the attic.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon A. Gaugush.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In October 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorneys’ Offices to develop districtwide crime reduction strategies, incorporating the lessons learned since the program’s inception in 2001. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
