Mountain View man indicted by feds

A 61-year-old Mountain View man who faced numerous drug and firearm charges in state court has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Honolulu.

The indictment, returned Aug. 12 but sealed until Monday, charges Jeffrey L. Gross, also known as Loran Gross, with a single count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, a Sig Sauer P250 9 mm semiautomatic pistol.

According to the indictment, the firearm was “shipped and transported in interstate and foreign commerce.”

Gross pleaded not guilty Monday in U.S. District Court via telephone from the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu. U.S. Magistrate Judge Kenneth Mansfield ordered Gross to appear for trial at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 26 before U.S. District Judge Jill Otake.

Acting U.S. Attorney Judith Phillips filed a motion to detain Gross without bail. The motion states Gross should be detained as a potential flight risk, for the safety of the community, and as a risk of “threat, injury (or) intimidation” of prospective witnesses or jurors.

A hearing on the motion was set for 9:30 a.m. Thursday before Mansfield.

An early morning raid July 30 on Gross’ Fern Acres subdivision home netted 27.2 pounds of marijuana, 222 marijuana plants between 5 feet and 6 feet in height, 14 firearms and more than 20,000 rounds of ammunition, according to court documents filed by police.

Eleven of the firearms, according to documents, were rifles of various calibers, plus two shotguns and the Sig Sauer pistol.

Also found was a cylindrical glass smoking pipe with a bulbous end containing residue that tested positive for methamphetamine, according to documents.

Gross had been charged by the state with four counts of first-degree possession of marijuana, plus attempted first-degree promotion of marijuana, methamphetamine possession, possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony drug offense, 12 counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and two counts of being a felon in possession of ammunition.

Because of the federal indictment, however, Gross’ state case was dismissed Aug. 18 without prejudice, meaning the state is free to refile charges.

According to the dismissed state complaint, Gross has 10 prior felony convictions dating back to 1981 for first-degree burglary, first-degree robbery, escape and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
Source: Hawaii Tribune Herald