Guilty Plea for Firearm Possession on Day of Jury Selection

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Luis Ivan Nino-Duenes, 27, of Control, Tamaulipas, Mexico, has been convicted of being an alien in possession of a firearm, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today.

Nino-Duenes pleaded guilty in federal court this morning as a jury panel waited to be seated for the jury selection phase of the trial. Nino-Duenes admitted he had entered the United States illegally and that at the time of his arrest he was in possession of a customized gold, diamond and ruby encrusted Colt 38 Super handgun.

U.S. District Court Judge Hilda G. Tagle, who accepted the guilty plea, has set for Sept. 17, 2012, at which time he faces up to 10 years in prison for being an alien in possession of a firearm. The conviction also carries a possible maximum $250,000 fine. Nino-Duenes has been in custody since his arrest on Oct. 26, 2011, where he will remain pending that hearing.

The investigation leading to the charges was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel Castro.