Esteban Garcia-Gutierrez of Arcadia was sentenced on Mar. 17 to six years in federal prison for possessing a loaded firearm as a convicted felon, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe.
The sentencing follows an incident on April 17, 2025, when a Florida Highway Patrol trooper stopped Garcia-Gutierrez during a routine traffic stop and found him with a loaded .45 caliber pistol. Court documents show that Garcia-Gutierrez has multiple prior convictions, including aggravated battery and felony battery, which prohibit him from legally possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
The investigation involved the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Simon Eth prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, described as a nationwide initiative using Department of Justice resources to address illegal immigration and combat violent crime through efforts coordinated by Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
