OAKLAND - Bryan Escalante was sentenced to 72 months’ imprisonment today after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Brian J. Stretch and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Jill Snyder. The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Jeffrey S. White, United States District Judge.
On July 25, 2017, Escalante, 23, of Pinole, pleaded guilty without a written plea agreement to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to documents filed in the case, Escalante posted photographs and videos of himself on his Instagram account possessing and shooting firearms at a shooting range. In addition, Escalante admitted he previously was convicted of a felony and was therefore not permitted to possess or own a firearm. On February 9, 2017, a federal grand jury indicted Escalante, charging him with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Pursuant to his guilty plea, Escalante pleaded guilty to the charge.
In sentencing Escalante, Judge White stated he was applying enhancements because the defendant was in possession of multiple firearms and because he possessed a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Further, in addition to the prison term, Judge White sentenced Escalante to a three-year period of supervised release that will commence after he completes his prison sentence. Judge White also ordered Escalante to refrain from having contact with members of the Sureño gang, or any other gang, as a condition of his supervised release. The defendant was remanded to federal custody and will begin serving his sentence immediately.
The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the ATF.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
