Sean P. Costello U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama
A Honduran national was sentenced on March 20 to 10 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama.
The sentencing highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to address crimes involving firearms and immigration violations.
Court documents show that Mario Ramon Mendoza-Martinez, age 26, was arrested by the Saraland Police Department on September 23, 2025. Police stopped Mendoza-Martinez for a traffic violation and found he could only provide a Honduran identification card. After requesting assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, officers confirmed that Mendoza-Martinez was not lawfully present in the United States. A search of his vehicle led police to discover a Winchester model 190 .22 caliber rifle and forty-one rounds of ammunition. Authorities also noted that Mendoza-Martinez has a prior conviction for illegal entry from the Western District of Texas.
Judge DuBose imposed the sentence along with one year of supervised release following incarceration. Upon completion of his prison term, Mendoza-Martinez will be referred to immigration officials for deportation proceedings and must pay $100 in special assessments.
The case was investigated by the Saraland Police Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Beth Stepan prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, described as "a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime."
