U.S. Department
of Justice
Press Release
Honduran Illegal Alien Indicted For Illegally Possessing Firearm
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Louisiana
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ERLIN JOVANY GAMEZ MALDONADO ("GAMEZ-MALDONADO") , age 29, a native of Honduras, was indicted on May 28, 2026, for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(5)(A) and 924(a)(8), announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, on or about May 4, 2026, GAMEZ-MALDONADO, an individual unlawfully present in the United States, was found to have possessed an Anderson Manufacturing, Model AM-15 rifle, multi-caliber firearm.
If convicted, GAMEZ-MALDONADO faces a maximum penalty of 15 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
United States Attorney Courcelle reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Mary Katherine Kaufman of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Contact
Shane M. Jones
Public Information Officer
United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Louisiana
United States Department of Justice
Updated June 1, 2026
Topic
Operation Take Back America