Two self-proclaimed gang members have been sentenced to prison for firearm and drug crimes, officials said Friday.
Jonathan Fricks, 35, was sentenced to just over 14 years in prison followed by four years on supervised release, according to a District of Colorado U.S. Attorney’s Office news release.
Fricks pleaded guilty in June to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, the release said.
Fricks was arrested by a community parole officer in 2014, and officers found $3,755 in cash in Fricks’ pockets at the time of his arrest. Officers then searched Fricks’ car and found a loaded pistol magazine.
Authorities determined that Fricks was a documented gang member, the release said.
Jesse Garis, 32, was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by three years supervised release.
The Aurora Police Department arrested Garis in January 2014 for possession of a weapon by a previous offender. Garis was also a suspect in the theft of a police computer taken from inside a marked police car while parked at a car dealership for service, the release said.
Officers found Garis outside his residence as he was seen selling drugs. Garis had a rifle, a rifle magazine that contained 25 rounds of ammunition and more than 7 grams of meth in the car.
“By focusing on those who traffic drugs while carrying a firearm with lengthy criminal histories, we are focusing on removing those who cause the most harm from our streets,” said U.S. Attorney John Walsh in the news release.
Elizabeth Hernandez: 303-954-1223, ehernandez@denverpost.com or
