Jefferson County Man Sentenced for Federal Firearms Violation

BEAUMONT, Texas – A Beaumont man has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.

Luis Roberto Alonzo, 24, pleaded guilty on Oct. 27, 2021, to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield.

According to information presented in court, on April 26, 2021, law enforcement responded to a motel in Groves where it was reported Alonzo refused to leave the property.  After making contact with Alonzo, it was determined that Alonzo had an outstanding warrant.  Officers also discovered a shotgun in the backseat of the vehicle he was seen exiting.  Alonzo is a previously convicted felon and prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.  Alonzo was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 4, 2021.

This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Groves Police Department and the Port Neches Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell James.