The reputed leader of a Tucson street gang was convicted Wednesday of illegally possessing a firearm, according to information released by the U.S. Attorney's Office Thursday.
Ernesto Clemente Romero, 28, the reputed leader of Tucson's Barrio Hollywood street gang, faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced on Feb. 15.
Clemente Romero has a previous felony conviction for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, which made it illegal for him to possess a gun, according to a U.S. Attorney's office press release.
In May, Tucson police officers responded to a call about a group of people drinking and playing loud music in a parking lot in front of a West Side barbershop in the 900 block of North Grande Avenue, near Speedway and Interstate 10.
When officers drove up to the scene several men stood around a white vehicle, according to the release. When police tried to make contact with the group, all ran into the barbershop except Romero, who leaned into the open driver's door holding a black object in one of his hands.
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When he noticed police officers he closed the car door and moved away from the car. A search of the car revealed the black object Romero was holding to be a semiautomatic handgun.
No one present at the scene admitted any connection to the vehicle.
