McALLEN, Texas – A 30-year-old Rio Grande City resident has been ordered to federal prison for possessing multiple firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Victor Aleman Jr. had been sentenced for another crime but did not report to prison as ordered. He was then found and charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. He pleaded guilty Sept. 28.
Today, District Judge Michaela Alvarez sentenced him to serve 40 months in federal prison for the firearms charge to be served consecutively to the previous 18 months on the human transporting conviction. The total 58-month prison term will be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the number of firearms involved in the case and how it is especially important that individuals abide by laws that relate to the safety of the public. Judge Alvarez also emphasized how Aleman was on pre-trial release for the human-smuggling case and that possessing the firearms throughout both that time and his post-sentencing release was in violation of the court’s orders and the law.
In April, Judge Alvarez had sentenced Aleman for transporting aliens within the United States. At sentencing, Judge Alvarez ordered Aleman to voluntarily surrender to the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), but he failed to do so.
Authorities were able to locate him and took him into custody. At that time, they conducted a search of his residence and recreational vehicle and found two assault rifles, a handgun, more than 200 rounds of ammunition and four high-capacity AR-15 magazines.
Aleman admitted he owned the firearms and placed the handgun in the bedroom drawer because he loved the gun.
He will remain in 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 U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee A. Fry prosecuted the case.
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