Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

MADISON, WIS. - Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Isaac Morales, 44, Tomah, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 21 months in federal prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm knowing he was a convicted felon. Morales pleaded guilty to this charge on December 30, 2019.

On February 15, 2019, Morales’ domestic partner called 911 after a disturbance, and said Morales had a gun. Prior to police arriving, Morales hid the handgun and two magazines in an outbuilding. Morales initially told the police that he sold the gun, but then admitted he lied because he is a felon and he knew he couldn’t have the gun. Both Morales and his girlfriend consented to a search of the property, and police recovered a Ruger 9mm pistol with two loaded magazines

In 2007, Morales was convicted of conspiracy to harbor aliens in the Southern District of Texas, and he has multiple misdemeanor convictions. Today, Judge Conley rejected Morales’ request for a sentence of probation, because Morales repeatedly violated conditions of his pretrial release. Morales was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

The charge against Morales was the result of an investigation conducted by the Tomah Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow.

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