Illegal Alien Convicted of Possession of a Firearm

Hattiesburg, Miss. – Ivan Cano-Elvira, 34, an illegal alien from Mexico, pled guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Taylor B. McNeel to possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca, Diane Witte, Field Office Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement & Removal Operations (ERO) in New Orleans, and Special Agent-in-Charge Kurt Thielhorn, of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

Cano-Elvira is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge McNeel on May 21, 2021, at 11:00 a.m.  Cano-Elvira faces a potential maximum of 10 years imprisonment, plus 3 years of supervised release and a maximum $250,000 fine.  He also faces being removed from the U.S. to his home nation of Mexico, following the completion of any prison sentence.

On October 2, 2020, ICE/ERO arrested Cano-Elvira, who was being held by Jones County officials on a state charge after his arrest for felony domestic violence.  On September 7, 2020, Jones County deputies had been dispatched to a domestic disturbance at Cano-Elvira’s residence.  When deputies arrived, they were told Cano-Elvira had a rifle in the residence.  Although Cano-Elvira had fled on foot, deputies found a Remington, Model 597, .22 caliber rifle, readily accessible in the unlocked closet of his bedroom.  Deputies confiscated the firearm, and Cano-Elvira was arrested the following day when he surrendered to deputies at his residence. The Remington rifle later was turned over to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF). 

After further ICE investigation, Cano-Elvira was identified as a deported or removed alien.  He had been removed from the U.S. to Mexico in April 2014.  Thereafter, he illegally reentered the United States and was encountered by Homeland Security officials on May 3, 2014.  His original order of removal was reinstated, and he was again physically removed from the United States to Mexico on May 31, 2014.  At the time of his last removal in 2014, Cano-Elvira was prohibited from entering, attempting to enter, or being in the U.S. for 20 years.  

Acting U.S. Attorney LaMarca praised the cooperation of the Department of Homeland Security; the ATF; and the Jones County Sheriff’s Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Harris is the prosecutor for the case.