Shreveport, La. – A federal jury has convicted Jose Ismael Ramirez-Gonzalez, a 37-year-old Mexican national, for illegal possession of a firearm and re-entry into the United States. Acting United States Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook announced the verdict, which was handed down after less than an hour of deliberation. United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote oversaw the trial.
The incident that led to the charges occurred on August 4, 2024, when Shreveport police responded to reports of an armed man in downtown Shreveport. Ramirez-Gonzalez, who was intoxicated at the time, had allegedly aimed a loaded Ruger pistol at a woman during a dispute over parking. Authorities arrested him for driving under the influence and not possessing a driver’s license. Evidence presented at trial showed Ramirez-Gonzalez was a Mexican citizen who had been deported six times between 2008 and 2018.
“The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to make our communities safe for all of our citizens,” Acting U.S. Attorney Van Hook stated. “This conviction should send a clear message that anyone in the United States illegally who chooses to violate our laws will be prosecuted to the maximum extent.”
Should Ramirez-Gonzalez be sentenced, he could face up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the firearm charge, plus up to two years for illegal re-entry into the United States.
Joshua Jackson, ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge, commented, “Getting guns out of the hands of criminals is an essential element of the fight against violent crime and securing our neighborhoods.” He emphasized that the sentence sends a message that illegal aliens possessing firearms will be held accountable to maintain public safety.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Shreveport Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Cheyenne Y. Wilson and Allison L. Duncan prosecuted the case.
