Honduran Illegal Alien Guilty of Violation of the Federal Gun Control Act

Federal Court Plea Enters Record in New Orleans

A 29-year-old Honduran national entered a guilty plea in a New Orleans federal courtroom to a felony charge of possessing a firearm while unlawfully present in the United States, the Department of Justice reported.

Erlin Jovany Gamez Maldonado admitted to the offense on October 22, 2026, stemming from an incident earlier this year. Court documents show that investigators found him in possession of an Anderson Manufacturing Model AM-15 multi-caliber rifle in the Eastern District of Louisiana on or about May 4, 2026.

Charges and Potential Penalties

Gamez Maldonado faces significant prison time when he returns to court for sentencing. Federal prosecutors noted that the conviction carries a maximum penalty of 15 years of imprisonment.

Alongside the potential prison sentence, the 29-year-old faces up to a $250,000 fine, a maximum of three years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. The case falls under Title 18 of the United States Code, covering specific violations of the Federal Gun Control Act regarding non-citizens in possession of firearms.

Multi-Agency Investigation and Enforcement Context

United States Attorney David I. Courcelle credited several federal agencies for investigating the case, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant United States Attorney Mary Katherine Kaufman of the General Narcotics Unit is handling the prosecution.

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The proceedings form part of a broader federal effort known as Operation Take Back America, an initiative utilizing Department of Justice resources to target transnational criminal organizations and firearm offenses involving individuals unlawfully present in the country.