United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

MAN WHO FLASHED GANG SIGNS AT UNDERCOVER
POLICE OFFICERS WAS SENTENCED TO 19 YEARS IN
FEDERAL PRISON ON DRUG AND FIREARMS CHARGES

FORT WORTH, Texas — Alex Perez, 19, who was arrested by Fort Worth Police Officers in July 2007 because he flashed gang signs at an undercover officer, and who subsequently pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, was sentenced on Friday by U.S. District Judge John McBryde to 228 months (19 years) in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper.

On the evening of July 18, 2007, undercover officers were patrolling North Terry Street in an unmarked vehicle when Alex Perez walked toward the vehicle and displayed a gang hand sign toward the vehicle. The hand sign was displayed in an offensive manner and in a manner to cause an immediate breach of the peace as it is a challenge to rival gang members and a threat to other members of the public. Perez was arrested shortly thereafter for disorderly conduct.

Following Perez’s arrest, law enforcement officers from the Fort Worth Police Department ( FWPD), the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) executed a search warrant at Perez’s residence. Law enforcement found over 1300 grams of cocaine, approximately 2294 grams of a cutting agent used to dilute cocaine, six empty kilogram wrappers with cocaine residue, almost one pound of marijuana, and $65,454 in cash. The majority of the cocaine was found in Perez’s bedroom. Officers also found six firearms during the search: an Uzi, a .44 magnum revolver, two .38 special revolvers, a 12-gauge shotgun, and an AR-15 assault rifle.

The case was presented to the U.S. Attorney's Office for federal prosecution as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods/Anti-Gang initiative, a collaborative effort by law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and communities to aggressively prosecute firearm-related offenses and combat gangs by building on the effective strategies and partnerships developed under Project Safe Neighborhoods.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the FWPD, ICE, and ATF. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Dewald.

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