Miguel Alberto Burgos, Unlawfully Possessing Firearm, California 2021

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Bakersfield Gang Member Sentenced for Unlawfully Possessing Firearm

FRESNO, Calif. — In a striking example of law enforcement’s commitment to reducing violent crime, Miguel Alberto Burgos, 28, of Bakersfield, was sentenced to three years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, on Jan. 18, 2021, a law enforcement officer stopped Burgos for committing traffic infractions while driving a vehicle in Bakersfield. Burgos yielded his vehicle but fled on foot. The officer gave chase and eventually secured Burgos on the ground, but he broke free and continued flight. Shortly afterwards, officers caught and arrested Burgos.

During the chase, Burgos discarded a Ruger LCP .380-caliber handgun loaded with a high-capacity magazine. Burgos cannot lawfully possess firearms because he was convicted in 2013 of second-degree robbery. Burgos is a long-time member of Bakersfield’s Varrio Bakers criminal street gang.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the California Highway Patrol, and the Kern County Fire Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher D. Baker prosecuted the case.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.

With the aggressive prosecution of cases like Burgos’, law enforcement agencies are sending a clear message to violent offenders: they will be held accountable for their actions. The people of Bakersfield and surrounding areas can rest easier knowing that their streets are safer thanks to the tireless efforts of these brave men and women.