Man who hid gun used in gang fight admits to weapons charge

Man who hid gun used in gang fight admits to weapons charge

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SALT LAKE CITY — A convicted felon who hid a gun that was fired during a fight between rival gangs outside Orem High School last year admitted to a federal weapons charge.

Deny De La Cruz Rodriguez, 23, of Orem, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to possession of a firearm and ammunition following a felony conviction. He was prohibited under federal law from having a gun because of a previous conviction for attempted robbery in California.

Members of the Florencia 13 and Norteños 13 confronted each other behind Orem High last October, and one side brought baseball bats and a gun, according to police.

During the confrontation, someone pulled out a 9 mm pistol and fired it in the direction of the other gang before everyone left the scene. No one was injured.

Using a search warrant, officers went to De La Cruz Rodriguez's home where they found the loaded gun in the bedroom between the bed mattress and the box spring, authorities said. The pistol had been reported as stolen in Millard County.

Officers also saw several places in the bedroom where Florencia 13 was tagged, along with De La Cruz Rodriguez's gang moniker, "Dreamer."

Vicente Marco Castillo, 21, pleaded guilty in state court to firing the gun during the incident. He was sentenced in February to one to 15 years in prison.

"No good will come from an armed gang member who is prohibited from lawfully possessing a firearm,” U.S. Attorney John W. Huber said in a press release, adding "targeting gang members with firearms is an important way to fight back against violent crime and ensure Utah communities remain safe for all of us.

De La Cruz Rodriguez is scheduled to be sentenced July 27. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison.

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Dennis Romboy

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