20-Year-Old Man Sentenced to Over Nine Years in Prison for Gang-Related Shooting
Two victims were Injured, Including a 2-Year-Old Child

PHOENIX—Michael Vasquez, 20, of Sacaton, Ariz., was sentenced here today to 111 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Roslyn O. Silver for his role in a shooting which left a toddler seriously injured. Vasquez pleaded guilty on March 5, 2009 to Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and Possession of a Firearm in a Crime of Violence.

Earlier in the day on February 28, 2008, Vasquez had a gang-related fight with three men. After the fight, Vasquez called several friends to help him retaliate. Co-defendant Jeremiah Johns and his brother, co-defendant Jerome Johns, responded.

Later the same day, the trio drove to a residential area where they saw the rival gang members standing outside. The men began to argue and Jeremiah Johns began firing a weapon at them in the direction of a nearby home. Jeremiah Johns fired at least 30 rounds of ammunition from a high-caliber rifle. Many of the rounds entered the nearby home, striking an adult male and a 2-year-old child who was sleeping in her crib. The child suffered serious injuries to her lower body, possibly never to walk in the future. Vasquez did not fire a single round or personally carry a weapon, but was responsible for these crimes by aiding and abetting.

Co-defendant Jeremiah Johns pleaded guilty on January 8, 2009, to Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury and Use of a Firearm in a Crime of Violence and was sentenced to 147 months in prison. Co-defendant Jerome Johns pleaded guilty on March 9, 2009, to Misprision of a Felony and is set for sentencing on June 4, 2009.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Gila River Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Sharon Sexton, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER: CR-08-655-PHX-ROS
RELEASE NUMBER: 2009-164(Vasquez)

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