By Sara Foley
Corpus Christi Caller-Times
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Johnny Joe Guerra, 33, pleaded guilty to possessing and dealing 5.6 kilos of methamphetamine, a quantity more than three times higher than the threshold that mandates a minimum of life in prison. When U.S. District Judge Janis Jack sentenced Guerra to life in prison, despite pleading from Guerra’s attorney to give him a lighter sentence, many people in the courtroom began crying loudly, and one man stood up and cursed at prosecutors.
The situation escalated as marshals tried to escort the crowd of about 30 people outside the courtroom and detain the man. People rushed outside, shoving one another.
Two women accused of grabbing a marshal and the man who cursed at prosecutors were handcuff ed outside the courtroom, and marshals ordered the crowd to leave the courthouse. Marshals spokesman Bo Collins said Thursday afternoon the people have not been charged yet because officials are reviewing courthouse videos.
According to court documents, Guerra was the leader of a prison gang responsible for murders, shootings, robberies and drug trafficking.
His charge in court Thursday was part of an indictment against more than a dozen members of the gang on various charges. The investigation also led to 16 other convictions related to a car-theft ring, drugs and firearms.
Ricky Alejandro, 25, also was sentenced Thursday to more than 18 years in federal prison. He was charged with shooting a man six times in January 2010 outside of a nightclub, assaulting two men in March 2010, breaking into a home and shooting a man, and possessing a gun as a felon.
“I’m very disgusted with myself because I’m better than this. It took this for my eyes to open,” he said. “The people who love me is my family.”
Anthony Torres, 34, also was sentenced to more than 14 years in federal prison for his involvement in the January 2010 shooting and possessing a gun as a felon.
Alejandro and Torres were ordered to pay the $130,000 hospital bill of the man they shot.
A letter from the victim that U.S. Attorney Mike Patterson read in court said that the man was ruined financially by medical bills and his inability to return to work quickly and asked for the maximum sentence.
Copyright 2011 SCRIPPS Howard Publications
All Rights Reserved