Timothy T. Duax U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa
A Sioux City woman, Maria Francisca Portalatin, 53, pled guilty on February 7, 2025, to multiple federal firearm violations in a federal court in Sioux City. Portalatin was convicted of several charges including being a prohibited person in possession of firearms, making false statements during the purchase of firearms, straw purchasing of firearms, and concealing a person from arrest.
According to her plea agreement, Portalatin admitted that in April 2023 she knowingly provided false information on ATF forms at Dunham’s Sports Store in Sioux City while acquiring multiple firearms. She later confessed to law enforcement that she was an unlawful methamphetamine user and purchased the firearms for Freddie Summerville, who was prohibited from possessing them.
In January 2024, Sioux City Police stopped a car driven by Summerville but owned by Portalatin and found one of the firearms inside. In March 2024, Portalatin bought two more firearms and again falsified information on ATF forms about her address, drug use, and the intended recipient.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Portalatin's listed address in June 2024 and recovered four firearms she had purchased. During an interview with authorities, she admitted to lying on the ATF forms and acknowledged knowing that Summerville was wanted on a federal warrant.
In July 2024, both Portalatin and Summerville were stopped near Sioux Falls. During a subsequent interview with law enforcement officers, Portalatin admitted they were smoking methamphetamine and that she had helped conceal Summerville.
Portalatin is awaiting sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand after the preparation of a presentence report. She remains free on bond but faces up to 15 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Fletcher and investigated by the Sioux City Police Department along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF).
