Past informant sentenced to life in prison

A violent gang member charged with killing a man after his release from jail at the request of an FBI-led task force was sentenced Friday to life in prison without parole.

In handing down the sentence in the unrelated robbery case, District Judge David Barker said he considered the slaying of a Las Vegas man who was shot and killed while Raul “Sparks” Gonzalez, an influential member of the 28th Street Gang, was free on his own recognizance after pleading guilty in the robbery case.

Homicide detectives said the defendant confessed to firing multiple rounds with a .357-caliber revolver through Eric Paul Montoya’s front door, fatally wounding the father of four in January.

Gonzalez told police he shot Montoya because he believed his friend knew he was an informant and was planning to attack him, according to an arrest report. He is charged with murder and awaiting trial in that case.

A Review-Journal investigation in February revealed that Gonzalez was a career violent criminal facing life in prison in the robbery case when he agreed in December to inform on fellow 28th Street Gang members to the FBI-led Las Vegas Safe Streets Gang Task Force.

Gonzalez was free in the robbery case soon after, and Montoya was killed in January.

Metro said Gonzalez was never officially signed as an informant for any police agency. The FBI said it was not involved in his release from the county jail and he was not a source for them.

After Gonzalez was arrested on murder charges, Metro began an internal investigation that led to the discipline of two officers and more stringent controls of officers assigned to the task force.

Gonzalez, 33, later tried to renege on his plea in the robbery case, but Barker denied his request and sentenced him Friday on one count of robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery.

“Everything I see in Mr. Gonzalez’s history talks about violence,” Barker said. “He took a life at a young age, and he continues to involve himself” in violence.

Gonzalez’s 15-year criminal record includes a murder case for a fatal stabbing during a 1999 fight between the 28th Street and 18th Street gangs. He pleaded guilty in that case to a reduced charge of voluntary manslaughter and served the low end of a five-to-15-year prison term.

Barker suggested Gonzalez, whose forehead, forearms and chest are covered with street gang and prison gang tattoos, had been institutionalized by the penal system.

Gonzalez acknowledged his gang affiliations but denied being violent.

“You can’t say that you’re not a violent man,” Barker said. “You’re the picture of that.”

In a back-and-forth with the judge, Gonzalez pleaded for a chance at freedom.

“If I was that much of a hardcore gang member,” Gonzalez said, “and I was such a threat to society, the district attorney wouldn’t have released me.”

He continued, “You can’t just release somebody out there to the streets and think they’re going to figure out how to do it themselves.”

Prosecutor Danielle Pieper said Gonzalez had been given several chances to prove he wasn’t a violent criminal.

“He hasn’t changed,” Pieper said. “He’s not going to change. Whether he’s institutionalized or not, he has free choice and free will. And he chooses every single time — violence.”

On Friday, Gonzalez denied killing Montoya.

“There’s no evidence that says I killed this man,” he said.

At one point, Gonzalez wanted to call Montoya’s girlfriend of 19 years, Maria Landeros, to testify during the sentencing, but Pieper advised her not to. Then Gonzalez called Jennifer Gascon, his girlfriend, who is in custody and awaiting sentencing on a forgery conviction. But after stepping to the witness stand, Gascon invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self incrimination and declined to speak.

Montoya’s family, including his sister, brother and children, appeared in court Friday and wept as Barker sentenced Gonzalez to a life behind bars.

They said they wouldn’t find closure at least until Gonzalez is tried for the slaying.

Montoya would have turned 36 Saturday, when his family plans to celebrate his life.

“My brother died a man,” Montoya’s older sister, Josette Rocha, said, “and he (Gonzalez) will live as a coward.”

Contact reporter David Ferrara at dferrara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039. Find him on Twitter: @randompoker.