LAREDO, Texas - A Laredo man has been sentenced to federal prison after he took a firearm from a Webb County Sheriff’s officer inside her home in the course of a domestic dispute, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Jose Genaro Contreras pleaded guilty Oct. 6, 2016, admitting to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Today, U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana handed Contreras a 60-month sentence. He was further ordered to serve a three-year-term of supervised release following completion of the prison term. In handing down the sentence, Judge Saldana noted the defendant’s “horrible record" and described his conduct as “egregious."
On May 29, 2016, Contreras became angry at his girlfriend, who was then a deputy with the Webb County Sheriff’s Office. Contreras pushed the woman to the floor, took the.40 caliber gun out of her purse and, according to her written statement, took her into a back restroom and locked the door. Two children were also inside the home.
Authorities later responded to a 911 call from the woman’s sister who stated that Contreras had a gun and she was worried he was going to kill her sister. When police arrived and questioned Contreras, he denied that any firearms were inside the residence. At the time Contreras possessed the firearm, he was a convicted felon who was prohibited from possessing any firearms.
Contreras 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 Laredo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Howard is prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
