ILLEGAL ALIEN SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR UNLAWFULLY POSSESSING A FIREARM

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Juan Dias-Zacarias, also known to law enforcement as “Gabriel P. Roberro” and “Gabriel Perez Roblero,” an illegal alien from South America, was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Alien.  The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Law-abiding citizens are guaranteed the right to keep and bear firearms by our U.S. Constitution, but illegal aliens who unlawfully enter our country have no such right.  In this case, the defendant not only unlawfully possessed a firearm, he used it to violently threaten another person. This criminal alien has repeatedly attempted to evade detection by using various aliases, but law enforcement’s advanced biometric capabilities helped to confirm his actual identity and secure his federal conviction.  President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi promised to Take Back America from violent criminals, and my office will continue to fulfill that promise by aggressively prosecuting these cases to keep our communities safe.”

Court records reflect that Dias-Zacarias was asked by a security guard multiple times to evacuate a hotel located in Pensacola, Florida.  Dias-Zacarias responded by removing a revolver from his waistband and pointing it at the security guard, causing him to fear for his life.  Eventually, the guard was able to disable Dias-Zacarias, remove the firearm from him, and notify law enforcement.  Dias-Zacarias was previously encountered by immigration authorities in the United States in 1998, and he returned to Mexico.  The defendant’s history reflects he has provided varying names, dates of birth, and countries of origin to U.S. law enforcement since his removal and illegal return.  Recorded biometrics, however, have allowed law enforcement to identify him on each occasion.

“This criminal illegal alien posed a clear threat to public safety by illegally possessing a firearm, brandishing it at other people, and by repeatedly attempting to deceive authorities on his true identity,” said Homeland Security Investigations Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nichola Ingegno. “His prior deportation and continued efforts to evade law enforcement demonstrate a complete disregard of the laws of the United States. This sentencing reinforces our commitment to work alongside our federal, state, and local partners to protect the public from these kinds of threats and hold accountable those who abuse our system and endanger others.”

An ICE detainer has been lodged against Dias-Zacarias, and he will begin deportation proceedings after he serves his federal prison term.  Dias-Zacarias’ imprisonment will be followed by a three-year term of supervised release, meaning if he returns to the United States during such timeframe, he will potentially face an additional period of incarceration related to violating his supervision.               

The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement Removal Operations.  Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer H. Callahan prosecuted this case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) 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. 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 United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.