Daniel Saquil-Orozco, age 25, from Guatemala and living in Sioux City, was sentenced to federal prison after a plea of guilty on July 10, 2012, to one count of being a felon and illegal alien in possession of a firearm and one count of being an alien unlawfully in the United States after having been previously removed.

After two days of trial, on July 10, defendant gave up his attempt to defend himself and plead guilty to both charges against him. Information presented by the United States during trial and at the sentencing revealed that on June, 25, 2006, defendant possessed three plastic baggies of cocaine and a kitchen knife with a three-inch blade that had been modified to provide a double edge. This conduct resulted in defendant's felony conviction for a drug trafficking crime, and, ultimately, his deportation from the United States. Sometime before December 18, 2011 (the date of the federal offense) defendant snuck back into the United States and returned to Sioux City, Iowa. Once back in the United States, defendant illegally obtained possession of a firearm. Further information showed that defendant physically abused his paramour, and when she tried to escape with her children, defendant held her against her will, prevented her from packing, threatened her with a handgun, and even fired shots at her would-be rescuers. A search of defendant’s residence revealed a safe containing four mason jars of marijuana, a baggie of marijuana, two mason jars each containing eight baggies of marijuana, a digital gram scale, packaging materials for marijuana, and a notebook that contained a drug ledger. Additionally, in an attempt to influence the testimony of his victim, while he was in jail, defendant asked a friend of his to contact the victim about the night of the incident.

Saquil-Orozco was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett. Saquil-Orozco was sentenced to 100 months’ imprisonment. A special assessment of $200 was imposed. He must also serve a 2-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

Saquiil-Orozco is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 12-4016-MWB.

The case is being prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a cooperative local, state, and federal program aimed at the enhanced prosecution of gun crimes. The case was investigated by the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Department of Homeland Security; and the Sioux City Police Department; The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.

 

 

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