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Guatemalan National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm
OCALA, Fla. — A Guatemalan national has been sentenced 18 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by an unlawfully present noncitizen in the United States after a joint investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Orlando.
Juan Dionicio Romero-Mendez, 23, of Guatemala, pleaded guilty to the charges on June 10, 2024.
According to court documents, in January 2024, he was involved in a traffic collision in Marion County. During the subsequent investigation of the traffic collision, Romero-Mendez was found to be in possession of a Chiappa Firearms pistol. As Romero-Mendez is not lawfully present in the United States, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by HSI Orlando; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
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