Illegal alien from Mexico sentenced for possessing revolver, shotgun

LAFAYETTE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced today that Jose Daniel Molina, 36, of Veracruz, Mexico, was sentenced to 12 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter for illegally possessing a revolver and a shotgun.

Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call of shots being fired on December 2, 2018, near a residence in Duson, Louisiana, and found Molina’s vehicle parked at the intersection of Dwayne Road and Tunica Lane.  Upon further investigation, the officers saw a Mossberg 20-gauge shotgun which was in plain view in the backseat of the car, and a Smith & Wesson .38 Special revolver with three live rounds and three empty casings on the ground about 10 feet from the driver’s side window of Molina’s car.  Molina was later taken into custody and told Homeland Security agents that he was in possession of the two firearms and had illegally entered the country in 2000.  Molina pleaded guilty to the federal charge on January 29, 2019. 

Homeland Security Investigations, ATF and Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Ayo prosecuted the case.