(Lawrenceville, Ga., 06/17/2024) – The third member of a drug robbing crew was sentenced to life in prison Friday for his part in the murder of a dealer they targeted in 2020.

Miguel Angel Gonzales, 24, was convicted of two counts each of felony murder, aggravated assault, and criminal attempt to commit a felony, along with one count of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony for the Feb. 10, 2020, shooting death of Marcus Gilead. Gonzales, who was 20 at the time of the incident, was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole, plus five years.

“No one in Gwinnett County should have to be afraid of being robbed or threatened,” County District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said. “This conviction and sentence stand as a message that this kind of lawless behavior is not acceptable and carries serious consequences.”

Gonzalez joined with Abraham Quintanar and Sebastian Resendiz-Garcia in a plan to steal $600 back from Gilead hours after Gonzalez had paid that amount for marijuana. The trio went to Gilead's home at 3220 Wrenwood Court in Loganville and found Gilead sitting in an SUV outside his home with another man. The three approached with guns drawn and ordered Gilead and his companion out of the vehicle, demanding, “where’s it at?”

The three robbers ordered the men out of the vehicle and told them to empty their pockets. Witnesses reported hearing gunfire, as a fight between two of the men broke out.

The robbing crew fled on foot and Gonzalez texted co-defendant Resendiz-Garcia soon after the shooting. The text read, “I feel like I shot one of ‘em, and (I know) for a fact AB did, too.”

Resendiz-Garcia was arrested on Feb. 11, 2020, and would eventually plead guilty to reduced charges of voluntary manslaughter. His cohorts were arrested days later.

Quintanar confessed to firing his weapon and on March 1, a jury found him guilty of all eight charges against him, including two aggravated assault counts, a pair of gun possession counts, and the felony murder charges. He was also sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

Gonzales had been free on $50,000 bond and confined to home confinement with an ankle monitor before the trial. He had been released in April 2020.

Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Wanda Vance prosecuted the case.