The streets of Orlando saw a semblance of justice as U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. laid down a significant sentence for one of the triggermen involved in a fatal shootout at Oak Ridge Shopping Plaza. Cristian Ponce, age 32, received a 20-year prison term for his role in the drug-related violence that claimed lives on November 2, 2022. The sentence, announced today, is the latest chapter in the drawn-out aftermath of that deadly day, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reported.
Court records show that the shooting involved a gray SUV, drugs meant for sale, and a sudden outbreak of gunfire that led to a violent turf war. Ponce and S.H. had cocaine and fentanyl packaged for sale, along with two loaded guns, at a plaza known for drug dealing. Chaos erupted when a drug transaction turned into a shooting.
Video surveillance shows that Ponce was directly involved in the incident. When the vehicle arrived, he handed a small bag of cocaine to someone just seconds before E.E. and an accomplice approached, leading to a shootout. Both E.E. and S.H. died from their injuries, their lives cut short in the chaos.
Despite the loss of life in the shootout, Ponce kept selling drugs to vulnerable people. On November 8, 2022, local authorities noticed ongoing traffic at Ponce's home, indicating illegal activity. On November 11, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence, finding more cocaine and firearms. Ponce was in a vehicle with co-defendant Rodney Hernandez, who had been sentenced to seven years in federal prison in June 2024.
