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U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd sentenced Hector Kioni Gongora, 44, of Fresno, on Monday to 10 years in prison for his guilty pleas to drug trafficking and gun possession.
Gongora’s convictions follow his arrest on charges involving methamphetamine trafficking and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition after being convicted of a felony, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert said in a news release.
According to court documents, on Jan. 11, 2021, following Gongora’s arrest, a search of his residence recovered more than 300 additional rounds of ammunition. He pleaded guilty on June 29.
His case stemmed from an investigation by the FBI and the Fresno Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonio J. Pataca was the prosecutor.
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The joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods Program, which nabbed Gongora, focuses enforcement efforts on a community’s most violent offenders, authorities said.
According to the Department of Justice, the “safe neighborhoods” program is effective at reducing violent crime.
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Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email