MS-13 Gang Member Sentenced to Over Five Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing “Ghost Gun”

Christian Quintanilla, a member of MS-13, was sentenced to 63 months in prison for illegally possessing ammunition in a "ghost gun."Photo byMegan O'HanlononUnsplash

The U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of California, announced today that Christian Quintanilla, also known as “Casper,” a member of MS-13, was sentenced to 63 months in prison for illegally possessing 11 rounds of unfired ammunition near 16th Street and Mission Street in the Mission District of San Francisco.

As described in court documents, Quintanilla, 24, of San Pablo, pleaded guilty on March 19, 2024, to unlawful possession of ammunition. He admitted being a felon and a member of MS-13, which prohibited him from carrying firearms or ammunition.

Quintanilla had previously been sentenced to 36 months' imprisonment for his participation in two MS-13 gang-related assaults in San Francisco, the department says.

On June 17, 2023, he was a passenger in a car that led California Highway Patrol officers on a high-speed chase, during which officers found a loaded handgun with a round in the chamber, according to court documents.

This incident violated the terms of his federal supervised release, leading to the issuance of an arrest warrant.

On September 7, 2023, San Francisco Police Department officers encountered Quintanilla near 16th Street and Mission Street, where he was arrested.

At the time, officers discovered a 9mm Polymer 80 pistol, also known as a "ghost gun," with an extended magazine loaded with 11 unfired 9mm cartridges.

In addition to the 63-month prison term, Chief Judge Seeborg ordered Quintanilla to serve three years of supervised release to begin after his prison term is completed.

Seeborg also found that Quintanilla’s possession of the weapon and ammunition violated the terms of his release relating to his August 2021 conviction and revoked his release, imposing a sentence of 24 months’ imprisonment to run concurrently with the 63-month term, the department stated.

.