An illegal alien and convicted felon has been charged with federal firearm crimes, as announced by Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Chad E. Meacham.
Manuel Najera-Garcia, a Mexican citizen and illegal alien, was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 26, 2025. He faces one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Najera-Garcia made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Rebecca Rutherford on March 26, 2025, where he was ordered detained.
The indictment states that on December 22, 2024, Najera-Garcia possessed a .38-caliber revolver after being convicted of a felony offense in 2012. Following his conviction, he returned to Mexico but allegedly re-entered the United States before possessing the firearm on December 22.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely an allegation and not evidence. Mr. Najera-Garcia is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If convicted, he could face up to 15 years in federal prison for each count.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives Dallas Field Division and the Dallas Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ted Hocter is prosecuting the case.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative aimed at addressing illegal immigration and dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators. The operation coordinates efforts from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).