Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A Corpus Christi man has been handed a significant sentence following his conviction of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. John Eric Garcia, 27, entered a plea of guilty Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015.

Today, U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos sentenced Garcia to a 200-month-term which will be followed by five years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, Judge Ramos further noted that Garcia’s criminal history was extensive and very serious.

At the time of his guilty plea, Garcia admitted that on July 18, 2014, he had seven firearms in the bedroom of the Corpus Christi home he shared with his mother, one of which had been reported stolen. Garcia also admitted having more than 100 rounds of ammunition. Garcia has previous convictions out of Nueces County for possession of a weapon on school premises, deadly conduct, aggravated assault and escape. As such, he his prohibited by federal law of possessing firearms or ammunition.

Law enforcement officers had discovered the firearms while executing a search warrant at Garcia’s house, which was obtained as the result of an undercover drug-trafficking investigation targeting Garcia.

Garcia has been in custody since his arrest on July 18, 2014, where he will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The charges are the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Brown IV is prosecuting the case.

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