Watsonville Man Sentenced To 38 Months In Prison For Firearm Crimes

SAN JOSE – Carlos Manuel Ruiz-Montanez was sentenced yesterday to 38 months in prison for crimes related to illegal firearms sales, including the sale of machineguns, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Cicolani. The sentence was handed down by the Hon. Edward J. Davila, United States District Judge.

Ruiz-Montanez, 22, of Watsonville, pleaded guilty to one count of Illegal Possession and Transfer of Machineguns, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(o), and one count of Dealing in Firearms Without a License, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(1)(A), on October 2, 2023. He was charged by Information on August 26, 2022.

According to court documents, from February 11, 2020, to September 13, 2021, Ruiz-Montanez sold and helped facilitate the sale of eight firearms, including a short-barrel shotgun, two machineguns, a firearm with an obliterated serial number, and an assault rifle (AR) style pistol.  The AR-style pistol was a “ghost gun,” meaning it was privately made and did not bear a serial number. 

In addition to the prison term, Judge Davila ordered Ruiz-Montanez to serve three years of supervised release to begin after his prison term is completed.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Neal C. Hong prosecuted the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by ATF, the Salinas Police Department, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) Special Service Unit, and the California Highway Patrol.