Felon with Multiple Domestic Violence Convictions on His Record Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Ammunition

LOS ANGELES – A San Bernardino man with multiple felony domestic violence convictions has been sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for unlawfully possessing ammunition – the fired cartridge cases of which law enforcement found in the man’s shared family home after he had fired them during a domestic dispute, the Justice Department announced today.

Frank Escobar, Jr., 35, was sentenced on Wednesday afternoon by United States District Judge Hernán D. Vera.

Escobar pleaded guilty in November 2023 to one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition. He has been in federal custody since August 2023.

In May 2023, Escobar knowingly possessed ammunition, specifically, three rounds of .25-caliber ammunition and four rounds of 12-gauge shotgun ammunition. Law enforcement found two of the .25-caliber rounds in the form of fired cartridge cases in Escobar’s shared family residence after he had fired the bullets during a domestic dispute.  He was not permitted to possess the firearm and ammunition because of his criminal history, which includes four convictions for felony domestic violence.

“Firearm restrictions are particularly impactful and necessary for offenders like [Escobar] with a history of domestic violence,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “Possession of a firearm by an abuser significantly increases the risk of death for a victim of domestic violence…While in possession of a firearm that he was legally prohibited from possessing, [Escobar] fired the gun multiple times in close proximity to his family members inside their shared residence.”

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the San Bernardino Police Department investigated this matter.

Assistant United States Attorney Kelsey A. Stimson of the General Crimes Section prosecuted this case.