Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

A Highlands County resident pled guilty yesterday to possessing firearms and ammunition while being an alien unlawfully present in the United States. 

Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Alysa D. Erichs, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), Miami Field Office, Matthew Madore, Chief Immigration Officer, U.S. Citizenship and Naturalization Service – Fraud Detection National Security (USCIS-FDNS), Tampa District Office, and Hugo J. Barrera, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Office made the announcement.  

Juan Gregorio Perez-Treviño, 26, of Lake Placid, FL, pled guilty before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Frank J. Lynch Jr., in Fort Pierce, Florida to the charge of possession of one or more firearms and ammunition by an alien who is illegally and unlawfully present in the United States, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(5)(A).  The offense is punishable by up to ten years in prison.

According to court records, on October 27, 2014, Perez-Treviño was interviewed by HSI agents and FDNS Officers with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in Royal Palm Beach, Florida regarding pending immigration benefits.  During the interview Perez-Treviño admitted that he was born in Reynosa, Mexico and originally entered the United States, through El Paso, Texas on a B2 ‘Visitor for Pleasure’ (i.e. Tourist) visa, which permitted a maximum stay of six months.  Because he failed to exit the country, Perez-Treviño became an “overstay” and was considered an alien unlawfully present in the United States.  Perez-Treviño further admitted that he owned two firearms, a .22 caliber rifle and a 12 gauge single barrel shotgun. 

On March 25, 2015, HSI agents visited Perez-Treviño at his residence.  During the visit, Perez-Treviño admitted to acquiring two additional firearms from when he was interviewed on October 27, 2014; a .308 caliber rifle and a 9mm pistol.  Perez-Treviño voluntarily retrieved the four firearms and turned them over to law enforcement.  Perez-Treviño also turned over numerous rounds of ammunition, including ammunition for each of the recovered firearms, which he had in his possession.

Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of HSI, USCIS-FDNS and ATF.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carmen Lineberger.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

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