A Sioux City woman, Maria Francisca Portalatin, has pled guilty to several federal firearm violations in a case heard on February 7, 2025, in a federal court in Sioux City. The charges against Portalatin include being a prohibited person in possession of firearms, making false statements during the purchase of firearms, engaging in straw purchases of firearms, and concealing a person from arrest.
Portalatin, aged 53, admitted as part of her plea agreement that she had made false declarations on ATF forms at Dunham’s Sports Store in Sioux City while acquiring multiple firearms in April 2023. She confessed to law enforcement that she was an unlawful user of methamphetamine and had purchased the weapons for Freddie Summerville, who was barred from possessing them.
In January 2024, a vehicle driven by Summerville but owned by Portalatin was stopped by Sioux City Police. A firearm was found inside the car. Later in March 2024, Portalatin acquired two additional firearms while again providing false information on ATF forms regarding her address, drug use, and the intended recipient.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Portalatin's listed address in June 2024 and recovered all four purchased firearms. During questioning by authorities, Portalatin admitted to falsifying information on the forms and acknowledged knowing about Summerville's outstanding federal warrant.
The following month, both Portalatin and Summerville were apprehended near Sioux Falls. In subsequent interviews with law enforcement officers, she admitted to smoking methamphetamine with Summerville and aiding him despite knowing he was wanted.
Sentencing is pending before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand once a presentence report is complete. Currently free on bond set previously, Portalatin could face up to 15 years’ imprisonment along with a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release after any incarceration period.
The prosecution is led by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Fletcher with investigations conducted by the Sioux City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF).