Honduras Native Charged With Illegal Possession Of A Firearm And Ammunition

SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Nelson Geovany Pineda-Chacon, age 30, of Honduras, residing in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person.

According to Acting United States Attorney John Gurganus, the indictment alleges that on or about May 7, 2024, in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, Pineda-Chacon, an alien illegally or unlawfully in the United States, did knowingly possess a 9mm Beretta handgun and 9mm Luger ammunition as a prohibited person.

This matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Assistant United States Attorney Tatum Wilson is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiate 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is fifteen years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

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