A San Juan resident has been sentenced to federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Michael Gallegos-Martinez, aged 45, entered a guilty plea on December 3, 2024.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane sentenced Gallegos-Martinez to 41 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. During the hearing, it was revealed that Gallegos-Martinez had previously served as a police officer before being convicted of a felony related to controlled substances. Judge Crane highlighted the significant amount of cash and narcotics found in the vehicle during sentencing.
The incident occurred on June 25, 2023, when Gallegos-Martinez was driving a Cadillac CTS and failed to make a complete stop. Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop and noticed his nervous demeanor. Although he denied having firearms or narcotics in the vehicle, a K-9 unit alerted officers who discovered a Rossi Model 461 .357 caliber magnum revolver in a grocery bag hanging from the gear shift. Additionally, authorities found 25 grams of cocaine, Xanax pills, and approximately $25,000 in cash.
Gallegos-Martinez will remain in custody until his transfer to the Bureau of Prisons.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with help from the Alamo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose A. Garcia is prosecuting this case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime through collaboration among federal, state and local entities. PSN focuses on addressing violent crime problems within communities by developing comprehensive solutions and emphasizing enforcement efforts on violent offenders while partnering with prevention and reentry programs for long-term crime reduction.