United States v. De Leon

In 1995, agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms ("ATF") began investigating possible violations of firearms laws by Thomas De Leon ("De Leon"). This investigation was based upon information received that De Leon, a convicted felon, had been seen with an assault rifle and was a member of a street gang. After De Leon was identified as the driver in a drive by shooting, the ATF obtained a search warrant of Lisa Cordovas home, De Leons girlfriend. The agents found hidden in a dresser in the home several incriminating items. The articles included: a box containing 85 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition, a Texas State Parole Board document referring to De Leon and some mens clothing. De Leons partial fingerprint was lifted from the box of ammunition and introduced into evidence by the government.