A Lancaster man will serve up to 16 years in prison for dealing heroin and illegally possessing a stolen handgun.
Lancaster County Judge Jeffery Wright jailed Jose “Coco” Gonzales for 6 to 16 years regarding convictions stemming from a search at a city storage locker last year.
Lancaster County Drug Task Force detectives recovered from the locker a Taurus 9-mm pistol, reported stolen out of Lancaster city, and 16 grams of heroin.
Assistant District Attorney Maria Cusick said in court Gonzales, 43, was not a drug user, but rather an “upper-level” dealer. Cusick stressed Gonzales’ criminal past which shows an unwillingness to abide by the law.
Cusick asked for consecutive sentences on the gun and drug charges.
Judge Wright ordered that and pointed to more than 20 court appearances Gonzales has had for criminal charges and parole/probation violations.
Gonzales’ criminal convictions date back to 1992.
Lancaster County Drug Task Force, assisted in the investigation by Lancaster city police Selective Enforcement Unit, filed charges.
Gonzales was convicted at a non-jury trial in February.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright