Fresno Bulldog Gang Member Sentenced for Illegal Firearms Possession
FRESNO, Calif. — United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced today that United States District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill sentenced Marcelino Higareda, aka Leno, 21, of Fresno, to two years in prison for possessing a firearm that had not been registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
According to court documents, on June 20, 2011, Fresno Police officers responded to Homan Elementary School at 1602 West Harvard Avenue in Fresno for reports of fighting between Hispanic and African American males. Officers saw Higareda with two other Hispanic males walking away and spoke with them. Upon learning that Higareda had a warrant for his arrest, they arrested him. Higareda told officers he had a gun in his backpack and the officers found a sawed–off Savage Arms, Stevens model 311D, 12 gauge shotgun, without a serial number.
Higareda told officers that he was an East Side Bulldog gang member and had been active in the gang since he was 12 years old. He said he came to the school when his brother–in–law called him and said he was having problems with some guys. Higareda said that he had heard of constant problems that bulldog gang members were having in the area so he decided to load the shotgun and bring it for his protection. He said that he was wearing bulldog attire because it was part of him representing the bulldogs. The shotgun was sawed off and not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
ATF takes gun crimes seriously and is committed to securing the safety of our communities by aggressively pursuing gang members who are in the illegal possession of firearms and are a violent threat to our neighborhoods,
said Stephen C. Herkins, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Fresno Police Department. The investigation and prosecution are part of Project SAFE Neighborhoods, a cooperative effort of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies aimed at combating firearms and violent crimes. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Sanchez is prosecuting the case.
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