A 46-year-old man from Starr County has been sentenced to prison for illegal possession of firearms, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Rosvel Gonzalez, who pleaded guilty on November 21, 2024, was ordered by Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane to serve a 36-month federal prison sentence followed by three years of supervised release.
The case began on September 5, 2024, when an undercover law enforcement officer conducted a controlled firearm sale to Gonzalez, a convicted felon. Following the transaction, authorities arrested him and later searched his home, uncovering eight additional firearms and various ammunition.
Investigations revealed that Gonzalez had prior felony convictions for marijuana possession and for manufacturing and delivering a controlled substance. As a felon, federal law prohibits him from possessing firearms.
Gonzalez is currently in custody awaiting transfer to a Bureau of Prisons facility yet to be determined.
The investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cahal P. McColgan prosecuted the case under the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program—a joint effort among federal, state, and local entities aimed at reducing violent crime through comprehensive strategies focusing on the most violent offenders while partnering with prevention and reentry programs.