A Honduran national has been indicted for firearm possession while illegally present in the United States, announced Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson. The indictment, returned on April 24, 2025, charges Jhosmy Josue Perez-Alvarez, 24, under Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(5)(A) and 924(a)(8).
Court documents reveal that Perez-Alvarez was found with a Glock nine-millimeter handgun on January 2, 2025. The New Orleans Police Department, alongside Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations officers, arrested him for immigration law violations.
If found guilty, Perez-Alvarez faces a potential maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
Simpson emphasized that the indictment is a formal charge, and Perez-Alvarez's guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. He commended the investigative work conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations and the New Orleans Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide effort by the Department of Justice to address illegal immigration, dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and safeguard communities from violent crime. The operation utilizes resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.