Manuel De Jesus Guirola-Amaya, a 20-year-old Honduran national without legal status in the United States, has been indicted by a federal grand jury. The charges include possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, possession of a stolen firearm, and stealing firearms from a federal firearms licensee. This announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire for the Middle District of Tennessee.
The incident in question occurred on December 5, 2024, at Golden Eagle Pawn in Dickson, Tennessee. Surveillance footage captured two stolen cars arriving at the store, with one vehicle ramming into the front door. Four individuals entered the shop and targeted several firearms displays. Within two minutes, they left with over 40 firearms in one of the stolen vehicles.
Later that day, Guirola-Amaya was stopped by an officer from the La Vergne Police Department due to an expired registration on his car. Inside the vehicle's trunk were five pistols stolen from Golden Eagle Pawn, still bearing price tags. Additional stolen firearms were found in another backpack inside the car along with suspected marijuana and digital scales.
A subsequent search warrant executed at a residence linked to Guirola-Amaya uncovered further evidence including a high-capacity magazine and ammunition consistent with items from Golden Eagle Pawn. Data extracted from cell phones found on Guirola-Amaya or within his vehicle provided additional links to the burglary through photographs and videos of firearms as well as location data and search queries.
Guirola-Amaya illegally entered the United States in March 2022 and lacks lawful status. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in federal prison for possession of a firearm by an illegal alien and up to 10 years each for the other charges. He could also be fined $250,000 per count.
The case is being investigated by several agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), La Vergne Police Department, and Dickson Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Hinkle is prosecuting.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America—an initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely an allegation; Guirola-Amaya remains presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.