Boston - A Lawrence man was convicted today on drug and weapon related charges.
Alberto Feliz Garcia, 34, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Chief Judge Mark L. Wolf to being a felon in possession of a firearm, being an alien in possession of a firearm, passport fraud, and possession with intent to distribute heroin.
On the morning of October 17, 2011, ICE agents, armed with a federal arrest warrant for passport fraud, encountered Garcia at his home where he was arrested in a second floor bedroom. The room was searched incident to Garcia’s arrest and the agents recovered a Fabrique Nacional 5.7 semi automatic pistol loaded with 19 rounds of ammunition. The agents noted that the serial numbers on the pistol were obliterated. Later Garcia consented to a search of the home which recovered 517 grams of heroin, 45 grams of crack cocaine, 32 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and $12,040 in United States currency.
Chief Judge Wolf scheduled sentencing for January 24, 2013. On the drug charges Garcia faces a minimum mandatory term of five years and up to life in prison, five years to life on supervised release, and a $5 million fine. On the weapons charges Garcia faces a maximum penalty of 10 years, to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. On the passport fraud Garcia faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Following the completion of his sentence Garcia will be placed in removal proceedings and deported to the Dominican Republic.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Bruce M. Foucart, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Timothy P. Alben, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Chief John J. Romero of the Lawrence Police Department made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit.
