Jackson, Miss. - Valentino Gonzalez, 31, pled guilty today before United States District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III to two counts of intentional assault with a deadly weapon, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst.
In 2005, Valentino Gonzalez was sentenced to more than 24 years in federal prison after being convicted of conspiracy to murder. He is presently serving that sentence at the United States Penitentiary in Yazoo City, Mississippi.
In September 2017, Gonzalez lured another inmate into his prison cell. Gonzalez intended to physically harm the other inmate. Moments later, the lured inmate-and intended victim-fled, running away from Gonzalez’s cell. Armed with a shank, Gonzalez pursued his intended victim. Ultimately, he caught the victim and stabbed him repeatedly with the long, metal shank. When a correctional officer attempted to intervene, Gonzalez stabbed the officer in the hand. Both victims sustained serious injuries.
Gonzalez will be sentenced in Jackson by Judge Daniel P. Jordan III on November 9, 2018, and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, followed by up to 3 years of supervised release, and a $500,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Special Investigative Section.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
