United States Attorney
Northern District of Texas

1100 Commerce St., 3rd Fl.
Dallas, Texas 75242-1699

Telephone (214) 659-8600
Fax (214) 767-0978

TWO MEN SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON
FOR POSSESSING SAWED-OFF SHOTGUN

United States Attorney Richard B. Roper announced that Irving, Texas, residents, Joseph Jay Castillo and Rosalio Orduna, have been sentenced following their guilty pleas to possessing an unregistered firearm (sawed-off shotgun). Today, United States District Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn sentenced Rosalio Orduna, age 18, to 33 months imprisonment. Last month, Judge Lynn sentenced Joseph Jay Castillo, also age 18, to 27 months imprisonment Both men have been in custody since their arrest in March on charges outlined in a federal indictment.

On October 12, 2005, officers with the Irving, Texas, Police Department observed Castillo in a local park with what appeared to be a sawed-off shotgun. Officers had been observing the park because of recent gang violence in the park. When officers approached Castillo, he put the weapon in the bushes. Officers retrieved the modified shotgun from the bushes and in addition, found three shotgun shells with the weapon. Castillo was then arrested and officers found more shotgun shells in his pocket.

Castillo told officers he got the sawed-off shotgun from Rosalio Orduna, an admitted member of the Westside gang. Later officers met Orduna at his home and Orduna admitted that the sawed-off shotgun that Castillo had belonged to him. Orduna then turned over 22 shotgun shells, that matched the five that Castillo possessed, to the officers. Orduna said that he’d kept the 22 shotgun shells because he’d planned to get the weapon back from Castillo. At today’s sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that Orduna was a gang member and that he possessed the shotgun in furtherance of gang activity. Castilla was not a member of the gang, but admitted associating with the gang.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the Irving Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gary Tromblay.

# # #