A Lancaster city man was sentenced this month to five to 13 years in state prison after he pleaded guilty earlier this year to possessing an illegal stolen handgun and dealing synthetic opioids.

Judge Dennis Reinaker handed down the sentence to Anthony Diaz, 31, on Oct. 15. Diaz had previously pleaded guilty in July to two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and one count each of person not to possess a firearm, possession of a firearm with an altered manufacturer number, receiving stolen property, possession of marijuana and use or possession of drug paraphernalia.

Assistant District Attorney Sarah Hansen, who prosecuted the case, argued that Diaz’s actions posed a threat to the community’s safety and asked Judge Reinaker to impose a tough sentence.

Hansen argued before the court that Diaz “went out of his way to obtain a gun” even though he was not allowed to possess a firearm due to a previous felony burglary conviction in 2016. Not only was the weapon later determined to have been stolen, but its serial number had also been obliterated, Hansen told the court.

Had the weapon ever been used in the commission of a crime, Hansen said, police may have never been able to trace its origins.

An attorney representing Diaz told the court he kept the weapon “for protection inside the house” and never fired it.

When given the chance to speak before his sentencing Diaz told the court he wanted to make “an honest man” of himself and apologized for his actions.

Police found Diaz hoarding the weapon alongside ammunition and drugs he intended to sell at his residence in the 400 block of East Strawberry Street while executing a search warrant there in January 2024.

The handgun, which was later determined to have been stolen, and ammunition were found in Diaz’s possession. Though the weapon’s serial number had been partially altered, police were able to read it with some difficulty.

Drugs including 50 oral films of synthetic opioids, multiple packages of suspected K2 synthetic cannabinoids along with dozens of empty bags used for packaging narcotics and other drug paraphernalia were also discovered during the search.

Some 20 grams of marijuana were also found in Diaz’s possession. Though Diaz possessed a medical marijuana license, the marijuana was not in dispensary packaging.

Investigators searched the residence after observing others inside the home selling drugs on at least five separate occasions.

Lancaster City Bureau of Police Officer Kevin Golinsky filed the charges.