Azucena Garcia-Ferniza Sentenced in Firearm Case Tied to Homicide

Azucena Garcia-Ferniza, a 22-year-old Mexican citizen, was sentenced Monday to time served for unlawful possession of a firearm tied to a fatal shooting in Salina, Kansas, U.S. Attorney Tom Beall confirmed. The weapon, a Glock .45 caliber pistol, was used in the 2015 homicide of 17-year-old Allie Saum — a case that sent shockwaves through the small central Kansas city.

Garcia-Ferniza, who has been in federal custody for approximately 15 months, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Wichita to one count of possession of a firearm while unlawfully present in the United States. She admitted she possessed the Glock on May 7, 2015 — years after her visitor’s visa had expired back in February 1998, rendering her presence in the U.S. illegal.

The firearm belonged to Garcia-Ferniza’s boyfriend, Macio D. Palacio, Jr., who opened fire on a pickup truck he mistakenly believed was driven by rival gang members. The gunfire struck and killed Allie Saum, an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire. Palacio was later convicted in Saline County District Court and sentenced to more than 50 years in prison for the killing.

In a separate state proceeding, Garcia-Ferniza was sentenced in July 2016 by Saline County District Court to 18 months on probation for attempting to conceal the murder weapon after the shooting. That effort failed. Evidence tied her directly to the possession and concealment of the Glock, undermining her claims of ignorance.

Following her federal sentence, Garcia-Ferniza will be transferred immediately into the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations. With no legal status in the U.S. and a criminal conviction on her record, deportation is imminent.

U.S. Attorney Tom Beall praised the multi-agency collaboration that brought the case to resolution, commending ICE ERO, the Salina Police Department, the Saline County Sheriff’s Office, the Saline County Attorney’s Office, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson for their relentless work in holding Garcia-Ferniza accountable for her role in a crime that stole a young life and shattered a community.

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