Drug Trafficker Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison Following His Participation In A Fatal Shooting

Orlando, Florida - U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced Cristian Ponce (32, Orlando) to 20 years' imprisonment following his role in a fatal, drug-related shooting. Ponce entered a guilty plea on February 13, 2024.

According to court documents, on November 2, 2022, at approximately 2 p.m., a drug-related shooting occurred at the Oak Ridge Shopping Plaza in Orlando. Ponce and S.H. had arrived at the shopping plaza in a gray SUV to sell drugs to addicts who congregated there. They had cocaine and fentanyl packaged for individual sale and two loaded firearms in the vehicle. Video surveillance footage shows that when the SUV arrived in the plaza, an individual approached the front passenger side of the vehicle and Ponce gave him a small bag of cocaine. At almost the same time, E.E. and another associate approached the SUV and gunshots were fired into and from the SUV. E.E. was shot, ran a short distance, and fell to the ground. S.H. was also shot. The SUV reversed uncontrollably, flipped over, and crashed in the rear of the plaza. Ponce assisted S.H. out of the SUV and fled before law enforcement arrived. The confrontation was an alleged turf battle over who could sell drugs in the shopping plaza. Both E.E. and S.H. died from their wounds.

During the following week, Ponce continued to sell drugs. On November 8, 2022, law enforcement observed vehicles and individuals visit Ponce's residence for short periods of time, consistent with drug dealing. During that time Ponce also sent and received text messages to conduct his drug business.

On November 11, 2022, at Ponce's residence in Orlando, law enforcement executed a search warrant related to the shooting. As officers approached the residence, they observed Ponce seated in a vehicle in the driveway with co-defendant Rodney Hernandez. Ponce again had cocaine packaged for individual sale and two loaded firearms inside the vehicle.

Hernandez previously pleaded guilty for his role in this case. He was sentenced in June 2024 to seven years in federal prison.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Orange County Sheriff's Office, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Stoia.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.