Man Sentenced For Unlawful Possession Of A Firearm

Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today that Jose Galvan-Lopez, 44, a Mexican national who most recently resided in Granite City, was sentenced on December 1, 2015, to one year and one day in federal prison for the offense of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Alien.

Galvan-Lopez pled guilty to the federal charge on August 10, 2015. He has been continually confined since his arrest in Granite City, Illinois on May 8, 2015. At his change of plea hearing in August, Galvan-Lopez admitted that he is an illegal alien who has been previously deported from the United States to Mexico, and that he had purchased a stolen 9mm assault rifle and ammunition for $50.00 in cash in St. Louis, Missouri, in 2013.

Upon release from federal custody, Galvan-Lopez acknowledged that he will be deported again.

The investigation which resulted in Galvan-Lopez’ arrest and conviction was conducted by the Granite City, Illinois Police Department and by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Agency.

The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Robert L. Garrison.