ALIEN PLEADS GUILTY TO POSSESSION OF A FIREARM BY A
PROHIBITED PERSON AND ILLEGAL RE-ENTRY
FELIPE ALVAREZ-CERVANTES, age 31, a citizen of Mexico, pled guilty in federal court today before U. S. District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle to a two-count indictment charging him with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and illegal re-entry by a removed alien, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.
According to the factual basis, on or about June 4, 2011, ALVAREZ an alien illegally and unlawfully in the United States, did knowingly possess a firearm, specifically, a Glock 9 mm handgun. In addition, on or about November 17, 2011, ALVAREZ an alien who had previously been removed from the United States, was knowingly and unlawfully found in the United States in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana without the Attorney General or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security having expressly consented to his re-application for admission into the United States.
The indictment charging ALVAREZ with one count of re-entry by a removed alien also included a notice of sentencing enhancement based on ALVAREZ’s prior convictions. Each count carries a maximum statutory penalty of ten (10) years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and three (3) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. Sentencing has been scheduled for May 16, 2012 at 2:00 P.M.
The case was investigated by U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U. S. Attorney Joe La Rocca.
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