Latest Legal News from the Criminal Courts of Los Angeles, California and the U.S.

January 24, 2008

Anti-Gun Activist Sent to Prison for Illegally Selling Assault Weapons

LOS ANGELES – An anti-gun activist and alleged gang member who for the past decade has run a publicly funded organization called “No Guns” was sentenced today to spend eight years in state prison for selling assault weapons during an undercover sting operation.

Deputy District Attorney Eric Harmon of the Hardcore Gang Division said Hector Marroquin Sr., 51, pleaded no contest to three counts of illegal sale of assault weapons, a felony. He was sentenced immediately by Superior Court Judge Steven Van Sicklen.

“This case shows the need for better vetting of programs such as Marroquin’s before taxpayers’ money is expended,” said District Attorney Steve Cooley. “There also must be regular auditing of such programs to ensure public funding is being spent to solve the problems of gangs and guns – not exacerbate them.”

Marroquin and 25-year-old Sylvia Arellano were charged last year after an undercover sting by a multi-agency task force battling gun and gang violence throughout Los Angeles County. The case was filed against them in May 2007 and had yet to go to preliminary hearing. The evidence was presented to the Los Angeles County Grand Jury, which returned an indictment last month. The indictment was unsealed Jan. 4 when both defendants were arraigned.

Harmon said Marroquin, a suspected 18th Street gang “shot caller,” used his status as a “gang interventionist” to hide his criminal enterprises. He said the sales of assault weapons occurred on three separate occasions in September, October and November of 2006. The sales of weapons were to a person who was working undercover with the task force. The guns sold included a Norinco Mac-90, a Ewbank EMAKM 7.62 and a SWD-M11 assault weapons.

The prosecutor said Marroquin has a bar in Cudahy and sale of at least some of the weapons was negotiated there. Marroquin’s “No Guns” organization stands for Networks Organized for Gang Unity and Neighborhood Safety.

Harmon said Arellano also pleaded no contest today and is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Van Sicklen on Jan. 22.

Harmon said the case was a joint federal and local law enforcement effort in conjunction with the Project Safe Neighborhoods program funded by the U.S. Department of Justice. The prosecutor, assigned to the program, serves as a legal and technical firearms expert in the investigative and judicial processes in an effort to combat gun and gang violence throughout Los Angeles County.

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CALIFORNIA CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER

JOSEPH SHEMARIA

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Latest Legal News from the Criminal Courts of Los Angeles, California and the U.S.