Mid-County felon sentenced to federal prison for having firearm at Central Mall

BEAUMONT, Texas – A Groves convicted felon has been sentenced to federal prison for possessing a firearm, announced Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

Moses Benjamin Castillo, 38, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael J. Truncale on May 23, 2024.

According to information presented in court, on Sep. 28, 2022, Port Arthur Police received information that Castillo was in possession of methamphetamine and a gun in the Central Mall parking lot in Port Arthur.  Police encountered Castillo as he was leaving the parking lot and initiated a traffic stop after observing him commit a traffic violation.  Castillo consented to a search of the vehicle where officers located a firearm, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.  Further investigation revealed Castillo to be a convicted felon and prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Port Arthur Police Department.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Grove.

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