Alamdar Hamdani U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas
A 19-year-old resident of Alamo, Texas, Emiliano Cabriales, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for using a firearm during drug trafficking activities. This announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Cabriales entered a guilty plea on December 5, 2024. His sentencing was carried out by U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton, who also imposed an additional three years of supervised release following his prison term.
The incident leading to Cabriales' arrest occurred on May 29, 2024, when law enforcement stopped a vehicle he was traveling in as a passenger. During the stop, officers found a firearm hidden under the seat where Cabriales had been sitting and discovered 14 grams of cocaine in individual baggies concealed in his pants. Cabriales admitted to possessing both the cocaine and the firearm for self-protection related to his drug activities.
Cabriales remains in custody awaiting transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility yet to be determined.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives alongside the Alamo Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cahal P. McColgan under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and community organizations.
This effort is part of a broader strategy launched by the Department on May 26, 2021, focusing on fostering community trust and legitimacy, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and evaluating outcomes.
For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit Justice.gov/PSN.
