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Mexican National Sentenced for East Texas Firearms Violation

TYLER – A Mexican national was sentenced to federal prison for firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.

Angel Emmanuel Solano-Calvillo, 32, of Mexico, pleaded guilty on April 19, 2022, to being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison on Nov. 2, 2022, by U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker.

According to information presented in court, on Jan. 11, 2022, Solano was stopped by officers with the Jacksonville Police Department for a traffic violation.  During the traffic stop, it was revealed that Solano was an undocumented Mexican citizen in possession of an AR-style rifle, a 9mm pistol, approximately 800 rounds of ammunition, a tactical vest with six 30-round magazines, methamphetamine with distribution paraphernalia, a police scanner, an inert hand grenade, two drones, and portable handheld radios.  Following his arrest, Solano admitted his unlawful immigration status and confessed to his participation in distributing methamphetamine.  Solano was indicted on Jan. 20, 2022 and charged with federal firearms violations.

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 Homeland Security Investigations – Tyler Field Unit, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the Jacksonville Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucas Machicek.

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Davilyn Walston

Public Affairs Officer/Law Enforcement Coordinator

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Eastern District of Texas

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