A longtime fugitive from Boston, Massachusetts found hiding in rural Idaho has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to unlawful possession of firearms.
Enrico M. Ponzo, also known as Jay Shaw when he was posing as a rancher in Marsing, Idaho, admitted that on February 8th, 2011, he possessed thirty-three firearms after being convicted of a prior felony assault and battery on a public employee.
Ponzo was arrested by the FBI and U.S. Marshals in Marsing, Idaho in February, 2011 after fleeing Boston in 1995.
After being arrested, Ponzo was sent back to Boston where he was ultimately found guilty of racketeering conspiracy, the 1989 attempted murder of Francis P. Salemme, Sr., and the 1994 attempted murder of Joseph Cirame.
Both Salemme Sr., and Cirame were seriously injured after being shot.
Ponzo was also found guilty of murder conspiracy in aid of racketeering, firearm possession in relation to murder conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, conspiracy to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, conspiracy to use extortionate means to collect a debt, use of extortionate means to collect a debt, unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, money laundering conspiracy, money laundering, and attempted witness tampering.
Ponzo was sentenced to 28 years followed by three years of supervised release.
He was then sent back to Idaho for the gun charge.
Sentencing for the Idaho charges is set for April 14th, 2016.
If convicted, Ponzo could serve up to ten years in prison and face a fine up to $250,000.
