“The work that California DOJ special agents do to keep firearms from those prohibited by law from possessing them is so very important, particularly with the rise in the number of ghost gun kits.  These special agents are truly working to protect us, our families, and our communities.” – CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

OAKLAND — On November 7, 2022, a San Bernardino man who possessed illegal guns and ammunition was sentence to four years in state prison. At the time of his arrest, Joseph Hernandez was on parole after serving a sentence of 32-years to life for second-degree murder and attempted murder. Those convictions resulted in a lifetime prohibition from owning and possessing firearms and ammunition. Hernandez pleaded guilty in the San Bernardino Superior Court and was sentenced.

“I want to thank my team that works relentlessly on the ground and in the courts to keep deadly, untraceable weapons out of the hands of dangerous individuals,” said Attorney General Bonta. “We can’t afford to wait for another tragedy to happen before we take action. My office will continue to take any and all action necessary to protect California’s communities from more senseless gun violence.”

Hernandez had previously served a 32-year sentence after being convicted of second-degree murder and attempted murder.  He was arrested in January 2022 after being observed by California Department of Justice, Bureau of Firearms special agents purchasing an AR-15 style ghost gun kit at a San Bernardino gun show. After obtaining a search warrant, special agents found an unserialized handgun, an unserialized short-barreled rifle, ammunition, and the AR-15 style ghost gun kit at his home.

DOJ works with local law enforcement partners throughout the state to continue preventing gun violence strategically and aggressively by seizing guns from prohibited persons in the Armed and Prohibited Persons System (APPS), through multiagency sweeps, and by conducting operations targeting individuals attempting to illegally purchase guns.