Gulfport, Miss. - Gustavo Hernandez-Gonzalez, 34, an illegal alien from Mexico, pled guilty today before Senior U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr., to possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, Jere T. Miles, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans, and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
Hernandez-Gonzalez will be sentenced by Judge Guirola on Aug. 26, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He also faces being removed from the United States to his home nation of Mexico, following the completion of any prison sentence.
On Nov. 19, 2019, an officer of the Gulfport Police Department was dispatched for a welfare check to the Inn Town Suites on Highway 49. A citizen reported that an unknown Hispanic male was passed out inside of a vehicle. The officer traveled to the hotel and made contact with Gustavo Hernandez-Gonzalez who was sitting in the driver’s seat of a pick-up truck. While attempting to wake up Hernandez-Gonzalez, the officer observed, in plain view, a black semi-automatic Smith & Wesson.40 caliber handgun and a magazine loaded with 7 rounds of.40 caliber ammunition. The pistol was on top of the center console to the right side of Hernandez-Gonzalez. Later, upon running the serial number on the Smith & Wesson.40 caliber handgun through Gulfport Police dispatch, it was discovered that the firearm had been reported as stolen through a report from the Houston, Texas, Police Department.
After Hernandez-Gonzalez woke up, another officer observed, also in plain view, a black Titan Tiger.38 special revolver on the driver’s side floorboard where he was sitting. Hernandez-Gonzalez did not have a driver’s license, but did have what appeared to be a Mexican identification card. Hernandez-Gonzalez admitted he is not a United States citizen, and that he illegally entered the United States. He was placed under arrest and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) became the lead agency for the investigation.
A search warrant was obtained for Hernandez-Gonzalez’s cellphone which contained multiple photos of him together with both firearms found in his truck. ATF agents assisted HSI and determined that both firearms were manufactured outside the State of Mississippi, and had therefore moved in interstate commerce.
U.S. Attorney Hurst praised the cooperation of Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the Gulfport Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Stan Harris is the prosecutor for the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
