PREVIOUSLY CONVICTED FELON SENTENCED TO 7 YEARS IN PRISON FOR POSSESSION OF LOADED FIREARM

(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Michael Gonzalez of Brentwood was sentenced to 7 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision after he pleaded guilty in August to a 12-count indictment which included Criminal Possession of a Loaded Firearm in the Second Degree.   

“This defendant used a loaded, illegally possessed handgun to threaten his ex-girlfriend in front of their young children,” said District Attorney Tierney. “This case is an example of both the dangers presented by illegal guns in the hands of criminals and the consequences those criminals can expect to face when they are prosecuted by my office.”

Due to the nature of the offense and the defendant’s extensive criminal history, the District Attorney’s office had recommended a 10 year sentence.

According to the investigation and the defendant’s own admission, on October 3, 2021, Gonzalez called and threatened to shoot his ex-girlfriend in front of their children because he said he was angry that she was dating another person.  The following day, after making additional threats against the victim, Gonzalez went to her house, threatened to shoot her and lifted his shirt to display a handgun in his waistband.  The defendant’s children were in the home at the time.  Police responded to a 911 call for a domestic disturbance involving a gun and placed Gonzalez under arrest after finding him in possession of a loaded .9 mm semiautomatic pistol. 

Gonzalez committed this crime while he was out on parole on two other felonies. On August 15, 2019, Gonzalez was sentenced in Queens County to 30 months in prison followed by 2 years of post-release supervision on a conviction for Attempted Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a loaded firearm.  Then on September 12, 2019, Gonzalez was sentenced in Nassau County to two years’ incarceration followed by two years of post-release supervision on a conviction for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, with Intent to Sell.

On August 10, 2022, Gonzalez, 29, pleaded guilty in Suffolk County to a 12-count indictment, which included:

One count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Loaded Firearm; Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree;

One count of Criminal Possession of Firearm;

One count of Menacing in the Second Degree;

Three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child;

One count of Criminal Obstruction of Breathing;

Two counts of Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree; and

One count of Harassment in the Second Degree.

Gonzalez was sentenced today before County Court Judge, the Honorable Steven A. Pilewski. He was represented by Natasja Bellinger, Esq.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Erin Branigan of the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau.

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Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments.

Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.

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