Fitchburg man sentenced for illegally possessing guns

A Fitchburg man has been sentenced for illegally possessing firearms.

Juan M. Gonzalez-Ruiz, 36, was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 37 months in prison, without parole, for possessing firearms as a felon.

Gonzalez-Ruiz pleaded guilty to this charge on Aug. 7, 2012.

On Oct. 19, 2011, Gonzalez-Ruiz was stopped in Fitchburg for driving on a suspended license. After issuing Gonzalez-Ruiz a citation, the officer was given consent to search the vehicle. During the search, the officer found two loaded firearms under the driver's seat.

Gonzalez-Ruiz has prior convictions for aggravated assault in Puerto Rico, possession of a sawed-off shotgun and conspiracy to commit armed robbery in Massachusetts, and first-degree reckless injury and aggravated battery in Wisconsin.

Felons are prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.