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Press Release

Illegal Alien Sentenced to Prison for Possession of a Firearm

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Iowa

An illegal alien who possessed a firearm was sentenced yesterday to one year in federal prison.

Rufino Rolon-Polo, age 36, a Mexico citizen residing in Hampton, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 29, 2015, guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully in the United States.

The evidence showed that on November 1, 2015, defendant was seen firing a gun in an alley in Hampton, Iowa.  On November 2, 2015, Rolon-Polo was interviewed by officers from the Hampton Police Department and gave consent to search his apartment.  During the search of the apartment, officers found a stolen .22 caliber revolver in Rolon-Polo’s dresser.  Rolon-Polo later admitted he was a citizen of Mexico and was illegally and unlawfully in the United States.  Federal law prohibits illegal aliens from possessing firearms.

Rolon-Polo was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade.  Rolon-Polo was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment.  A special assessment of $100 was imposed.  He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system. Rolon-Polo is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Hampton, Iowa Police Department, the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement Removal Operations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. 

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 15-CR-3046.

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Updated April 13, 2016

Topic
Project Safe Neighborhoods