United States Attorney Leura G. Canary Middle District of Alabama

ILLEGAL ALIEN SENTENCED TO 24 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF FIREARM

MONTGOMERY, Ala.— Saul Hernandez-Cortez, age 25, of Mexico, has been sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Leura G. Canary announced today.

Hernandez previously pled guilty to possessing a firearm while being unlawfully in the United States, in violation of Title 18, United States Code Section 922(g)(5). On December 26, 2006, in Chilton County, Alabama, Hernandez possessed a 9mm handgun, despite his illegal status. Due to this unlawful firearm possession, Hernandez was sentenced in federal district court by United States District Judge Myron H. Thompson to a term of imprisonment of 24 months to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Upon being released from prison, Hernandez will be remanded to the custody of the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation proceedings.

The case was investigated as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods and the Middle District of Alabama’s Alabama ICE (Isolating the Criminal Element) programs, aimed at preventing violent crime and the illegal possession of firearms. According to United States Attorney Leura G. Canary, “By prosecuting felons who illegally possess firearms, we are sending a message that firearms crimes will not be tolerated in the Middle District of Alabama.”

The case was investigated through the joint efforts of the Jemison Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant United States Attorney Jerusha T. Adams prosecuted the case.