Leigha Simonton, United States Attorney, Northern District of Texas | U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas
A man from Mexico has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for a federal gun crime, as announced by Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Chad Meacham. Edgar Eduardo Gamez-Rodriguez, aged 22, was charged in September 2024 and admitted guilt in October 2024 to being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. The sentencing was carried out by U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix.
The incident occurred on October 1, 2023, when law enforcement responded to reports of "shots fired" outside a San Angelo home. Witnesses at the party reported that Gamez-Rodriguez discharged several rounds into the air with a handgun.
According to an incident report from the sheriff’s office, Gamez-Rodriguez became intoxicated and agitated after his keys were taken away. He allegedly pointed his gun at two musicians hired for the event before entering his vehicle and firing four to six shots into the air as he drove away. Witnesses claimed he later threatened that he "knows people" who could retaliate against the house.
A search warrant executed at Gamez-Rodriguez’s residence led law enforcement officers to recover a Taurus 9mm semi-automatic handgun and two magazines stored alongside an employment contract bearing his signature and his vehicle keys.
Officers also examined Gamez-Rodriguez's Facebook profile photo which depicted him holding a black handgun.
Immigration records confirmed that Gamez-Rodriguez is a Mexican citizen born in Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico. He had no legal permission to enter or remain in the United States and had previously been deported via Laredo.
Upon completing his sentence, deportation proceedings will be initiated once more against Mr. Gamez-Rodriguez.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigation’s Dallas Field Office along with the Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office, with support from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Haag prosecuted this case.
