Mexican National Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Unlawful Return after Removal and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person

Jackson, Miss. – A Mexican man was sentenced to 24 months in prison for unlawful return to the United States after removal, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

According to court documents, on March 23, 2023, the Pearl Police Department received a report of an intoxicated man with a gun at a Pearl apartment complex. Law enforcement officers responded to the area and located Antonio Andrade-Hernandez, 36, with a gun pointed at his own head. Law enforcement officers were able to get Andrade-Hernandez to surrender peacefully. A records check revealed that Andrade-Hernandez was an illegal alien who had previously been removed from the United States. Additionally, since Andrade-Hernandez is a Mexican national illegally in the United States, it is contrary to federal law for him to possess any firearm.

On April 4, 2023, Andrade-Hernandez was indicted by a federal grand jury.  He subsequently pled guilty to unlawful return after removal and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans made the announcement. 

The case was investigated by the Pearl Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Homeland Security Investigations.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam T. Stuart prosecuted the case.

This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.