Laredoan Sent to Prison for Firearms Charge

LAREDO, Texas – A 31-year-old Laredo resident has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez. Anthony Tays pleaded guilty June 7, 2016.

Today, Senior U.S. District Judge George P. Kazen handed Tays a 50-month sentence to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.

Tays was convicted in 2006 for criminally negligent homicide and, therefore, prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. On Sept. 15, 2015, law enforcement discovered and seized six firearms from his home.

Before handing down the sentence today, Judge Kazen noted that Tays had acquired a membership to a local firearm range in 2015, where he rented firearms and shooting lanes, purchased ammunition and practiced shooting personal and rented firearms during several visits.

Tays has been and will remain in federal custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Laredo Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose Homero Ramirez prosecuted this case.