City of Sanford Florida Police Department

Criminal Repeat Offender Program - Gotcha!!
	German Gonzalez DOB: 10/26/1971 Sentenced to LIFE IN PRISON with No Possibility of Parole German Gonzalez received a Life prison sentence on February 17^th, 2010, in Seminole County, Florida. German Gonzalez, hailing from Bayamon, Puerto Rico, will spend the rest of his natural life behind bars in a Florida prison. Although Mr. Gonzalez had no prior Law Enforcement contact in Seminole County like our other CROP convicts, don’t let that fool you. Mr. Gonzalez was previously convicted for Armed Bank Robbery and served a Federal sentence for that conviction and was released on June 9^th, 2004. Mr. Gonzalez has a lengthy criminal history stemming from Duval and Orange Counties. Sanford Offense Case #200750000210 On January 11^th, 2007 at approximately 9:00 p.m., Sanford Officers were flagged down at the intersection of Americana Blvd and U.S. Highway 1792. The victim reported to Officers he had just been robbed at the Wachovia Bank located at 3603 South Orlando Drive, Sanford, Fl. The victim stated he came to the Wachovia to withdrawal money from the ATM. The victim stated while returning to his vehicle two men in a maroon 4 door sedan, drove up to the passenger side of his vehicle. The victim indicated as he proceeded to enter his vehicle, one of the men from the vehicle approached him with a cup in his hand, asking if he "had any change". The victim reported he replied "no" and proceeded to close the door to his vehicle. The victim reported at that time, the male pulled a black handgun and stuck it into his ribs, telling him to "move over". The victim reported the other male that had remained in the maroon vehicle proceeded to drive up to the driver's side of his vehicle. The victim stated he offered the robber the $40.00 dollars he had withdrawn from the ATM. The victim reported the suspect with the handgun insisted that he move over as he kept pressing the gun into his ribs. The victim indicated that after a brief altercation the suspect with the handgun ordered him to "get out of here." The victim reported the suspects drove south through the Walmart parking lot in a maroon four door car that appeared to be a Saab. The victim was escorted back to the Wachovia Bank by Officers. A search of the immediate area, located a maroon 4 door Saab, unoccupied, parked in the area of Wendy's, 3717 South Orlando Drive, Sanford, Fl. A witness approached the Officers that were out with the suspect vehicle, stating that while walking out of Wendy's he saw a person walking into Wendy's, drop his shirt and expose what appeared to be a black 45 caliber handgun. The witness accompanied the Officer inside the Wendy's to identify the person whom they observed with the handgun. Upon entering Wendy's, the witness was able to positively identify German Gonzalez, as the suspect with the handgun. Mr. Gonzalez was attempting to exit the restaurant as the Officer and witness were entering. German Gonzalez was detained for everyone's safety and placed in the rear of a patrol vehicle. Mr. Gonzalez was uncooperative and refused to allow the Officer to speak to him. Officers searched the Wendy's bathroom trash can and found a black 45 caliber handgun as well as grey dress pants and black socks. The bag of trash and the articles were taken as evidence. The victim was escorted to the patrol vehicle in which German Gonzalez was located. The victim was able to positively identify Mr. Gonzalez as the person who placed the black handgun in his ribs, demanded that he move over and attempted to rob him. The victim positively identified the black handgun as well. An additional witness at Wendy's, stated that they had noticed German Gonzalez enter the restaurant in a quick manner, without a shirt and dressed only in a pair of grey shorts and tennis shoes. The witness described Mr. Gonzalez as breathing heavy and carrying grey pants in the middle of his body as to conceal his hands. The witness stated that Mr. Gonzalez was not in the restroom very long and when he exited the restroom he did not possess the grey pants that he had entered the restaurant carrying. The witness reported Mr. Gonzalez was dressed in a sweater when he exited and immediately left the restaurant without ordering any food. At that time German Gonzalez was placed under arrest and transported to the Sanford Police Department for further questioning by Investigators. Mr. Gonzalez refused to speak with Investigators and was transported to the jail for booking. A subsequent search of the Saab revealed Mr. Gonzalez' drivers license. On January 26^th, 2010 German Gonzalez entered the Seminole County courthouse where he appeared before Judge Marlene Alva and a jury of his peers. After a brief trial, Mr. Gonzalez was found guilty as charged, for the crime of Armed Burglary of a Conveyance. On February 17^th, 2010, German Gonzalez was sentenced to LIFE IN PRISON WITH NO POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE for the charge of Armed Burglary of a Conveyance. Mr. Gonzalez also received a 10 year mandatory sentence for displaying a firearm during the commission of the crime. Mr. Gonzalez was sentenced as a Prison Releasee Reoffender. The Sanford Police Department is proud to announce to the citizens and visitors of Sanford that we have once again succeeded in removing a dangerous hardened career criminal from the community! German Gonzalez is the fourth criminal convicted under the Sanford Police Departments Criminal Repeat Offender Program. "For those few criminals that think crime pays...not in Sanford. If you are committing crimes in our city, you need to know we will relentlessly pursue you and seek the maximum incarceration allowed under Florida law."

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Sanford, Florida - Waterfront Gateway to Central Florida