Convicted Felon Sentenced to More Than 7 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Two Loaded Handguns in a Chicago Park

CHICAGO — A convicted felon has been sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison for illegally possessing two loaded semi-automatic handguns in a park in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago.

LUIS REYNOSO possessed the guns on the afternoon of April 24, 2017, in Piotrowski Park, in the 4200 block of West 31st Street in Chicago.  Reynoso also possessed four bags of marijuana and $345 in cash.  Reynoso had previously been convicted of multiple felonies, including attempted murder, and was not legally allowed to possess a firearm.

Reynoso, 38, of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of illegal possession of a firearm by a felon.  U.S. District Judge Ronald A. Guzman on Tuesday sentenced Reynoso to seven years and eight months in federal prison.

The sentence was announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Jeffrey S. Sallet, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Eddie Johnson, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department.

“Firearms and firearm-related violence have plagued the City of Chicago for years, and a felon in possession of a firearm – like Reynoso – presents a risk and threat of violence to the community,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Storino argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum.  “Reynoso’s illegal possession of a firearm is part of the larger cycle of illegal gun possession that fuels the gun violence in this city and continues to victimize all residents of the City of Chicago.”

Evidence in the case revealed that Reynoso stored the loaded handguns and some of the baggies of marijuana in a red bag, which he had with him in the park.  When a law enforcement officer approached him, Reynoso left the bag and ran off, leading the officer on a foot chase along 31st Street.  The officer eventually caught up with Reynoso and arrested him.  The officer discovered the cash and a bag of marijuana on Reynoso’s person.  The officer then walked Reynoso back to the red bag, which contained the two firearms and three additional baggies of marijuana.