HOUSTON – John Christopher Wolford is a documented member of the Gangster Disciples street gang. He has 18 prior convictions. As such he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition per federal law.
On March 28, an employee of a convenience store on the 8400 block of Main Street in Houston noticed Wolford pacing back and forth outside the building with a gun in his hand. He contacted authorities. Upon their arrival, law enforcement confronted Wolford and discovered a loaded 9-mm, semi-automatic pistol in his pants.
Wolford’s prior convictions include drug trafficking, tampering with physical evidence, assault causing bodily injury and assault of a family member. The most recent was in 2019 when he pleaded guilty to another felon in possession charge. He received a 37-month prison sentence followed by three years of supervised release.
As part of his plea today, Wolford also admitted to violating the terms of that supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison accepted the plea and set sentencing for Nov. 10. At that time, Wolford faces up to 10 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He also faces up to an additional two years for supervised release violation.
Wolford was taken into custody pending that hearing.
The Houston Police Department and FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Laurence Goldman is prosecuting the case.
