Local Man Sentenced on Firearms Charge

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A local man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. A federal jury convicted Eligio San Miguel Mendez, 26, of Corpus Christi, on March 14, 2016.

Today, Senior U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey sentenced Mendez to 84 months imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard from an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) who reported that while in custody, Mendez stated he planned to get another gun upon his release. In handing down the sentence, Judge Rainey stated that after hearing the testimony of the agent, he was “very concerned for the lack of respect for law enforcement.”   

In February 2015, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the Corpus Christi residence of Mendez. During the search, officers discovered a stolen Glock 9mm semi-automatic pistol which was loaded with a 30-round extended magazine and several additional rounds of ammunition. Mendez, who has a previous federal firearms felony conviction, is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. 

Mendez was arrested and taken into federal custody in June 2015 as part of Operation Rusty Hook, a coordinated effort by federal, state and local law enforcement to identify violent offenders, stop gun violence and protect the community.

Mendez will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

ATF and the Texas Department of Public Safety conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lance Watt is prosecuting the case.