California Man Sentenced to 15 Months in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a Handgun

BILLINGS - The United States Attorney’s Office announced that Luis Javier Gaspar, a 20 year-old resident of San Jose, California, was sentenced on June 20, 2018 to 15 months in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  Gaspar was convicted of felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1).  

In March 2017, a Montana Highway Patrol Trooper pulled over a car occupied by Gaspar and his co-defendant, Francisco Calderon, for a traffic infraction.  During the stop, the trooper developed probable cause to search the car and law enforcement found a loaded revolver in the middle console.  Gaspar was prohibited from possessing the firearm based on a prior felony conviction in California.  

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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.