Federal Guilty Plea Enters in New Orleans Gun Possession Case An Anderson Manufacturing Model AM-15 multi-caliber rifle recovered in the Eastern District of Louisiana has resulted in a federal guilty plea for a 29-year-old Honduran national. Erlin Jovany Gamez Maldonado entered his guilty plea on October 22, 2026, before United States Attorney David I. Courcelle, admitting to violating the Federal Gun Control Act by being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, the firearm possession occurred on or about May 4, 2026, when Gamez Maldonado was found unlawfully present in the United States with the Anderson Manufacturing, Model AM-15 rifle within the Eastern District of Louisiana. His guilty plea falls under Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(5)(A) and 924(a)(8).
Gamez Maldonado Faces up to 15 Years in Prison
Following his guilty plea in New Orleans, Gamez Maldonado faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years of imprisonment. The conviction carries a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
Multiple Federal Agencies Investigated the Case
United States Attorney Courcelle acknowledged the investigative work performed by multiple agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant United States Attorney Mary Katherine Kaufman of the General Narcotics Unit is handling the prosecution of the case.
Authorities noted that the prosecution forms part of Operation Take Back America, described as a nationwide Department of Justice initiative aimed at addressing violent crime perpetrators, eliminating transnational criminal organizations and cartels, and responding to illegal immigration.
