Gabriel Cabrera, a 23-year-old resident of Sacramento, was sentenced on May 5 to eight years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, according to U.S. Attorney Eric Grant.
Cabrera's sentencing highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address violent crime and drug distribution in the region. The case is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative that uses Department of Justice resources against illegal immigration, cartels, transnational criminal organizations, and violent crime perpetrators.
According to court documents, agents conducted a parole search at Cabrera’s home on March 28, 2025. They found a firearm and fentanyl hidden in another resident’s bedroom. Additional evidence included drug paraphernalia and a sales ledger located in Cabrera’s room. Investigators also recovered video footage from Cabrera’s cellphone showing him holding the same firearm as well as messages discussing fentanyl sales. Cabrera was prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions for offenses such as sale of a controlled substance, infliction of corporal injury on a spouse, and willfully discharging a firearm with gross negligence.
Cabrera pleaded guilty on September 9, 2025. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with help from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, Sacramento Police Department, and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Douglas Harman prosecuted the case.
The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California represents the federal government in all litigation within its district and prosecutes federal crimes; it maintains branches in Sacramento, Fresno and Bakersfield while serving 34 counties across more than 87,000 square miles according to the official website.
