Illegal Alien Sentenced for Possession of a Firearm

U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier sentenced ACOSTA-SALAS to seven months’ imprisonment and one year supervised release following imprisonment.  Following completion of his sentence, ACOSTA-SALAS will be surrendered to the custody of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for removal proceedings.

According to the court documents, on July 30, 2016, ACOSTA-SALAS was stopped by the Mandeville Police Department for driving over the speed limit. ACOSTA-SALAS exited his truck and produced a Mexican identification card but did not have a driver’s license.  The officer asked ACOSTA-SALAS if he had any weapons on him or in the vehicle. ACOSTA-SALAS advised that he had a pistol in the center console of the truck. The officer entered the cab of the truck and retrieved a Taurus Model PT 111 Pro, 9 mm semi-automatic pistol bearing serial number TDO85685. The officer also found two Taurus magazines loaded with ammunition.  ACOSTA-SALAS illegally entered the United States prior to July 30, 2016, and had no pending status adjustments with the Citizenship and Immigration Services.

U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Mandeville Police Department in investigated this matter.  Assistant United States Attorney Emily K. Greenfield was in charge of the prosecution.