United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana

11/21/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/21/2024 14:03

Honduran Native Pleads Guilty to Being an Illegal Alien in Possession of a Firearm

Press Release

Honduran Native Pleads Guilty to Being an Illegal Alien in Possession of a Firearm

Thursday, November 21, 2024
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Louisiana

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JOAN E. ESCOBAR-REYES ("ESCOBAR-REYES"), age 26, a native of Honduras, pled guilty on November 19, 2024, to being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(5)(A).

According to court documents, on or about June 30, 2024, ESCOBAR-REYES, an alien illegally present in the United States, was found in possession of a Glock Model 32, .357 SIG caliber, semi-automatic pistol and a H&R Model 92, .22 LR caliber revolver.

ESCOBAR-REYES faces up to 15 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan set sentencing for February 20, 2025.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations and the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office, in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.

Contact

Shane M. Jones

Public Information Officer

United States Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Louisiana

United States Department of Justice

Updated November 21, 2024
Topic
Project Safe Neighborhoods