Bloomsburg Gun Bust: 2 Years Behind Bars

⏱ 2 min read

Nelson Pineda-Chacon, 31, is heading to federal prison for two years. On May 7th, Bloomsburg police responded to gunfire at his home. It turned out Pineda-Chacon had been blasting away with a 9mm after a fight with his wife, claiming he needed to “relieve stress.” Now, he’s the one feeling the pressure.

Cops found spent casings and a live round scattered across the driveway, plus more ammo in a truck. A search of the house turned up a loaded Beretta 9mm stashed in the basement. But here’s the kicker: Pineda-Chacon isn’t supposed to *have* a gun. He’s a Honduran national who slipped into the country illegally back in 2009, and was already deep in deportation proceedings when the shooting happened.

Federal Judge Matthew Brann handed down the 24-month sentence yesterday in Scranton. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tatum Wilson brought the case, framing it as part of “Operation Take Back America”—a wide-net initiative targeting illegal immigration and associated crime.

The investigation was a combined effort by ICE, the Pennsylvania State Police, and local cops from Montour Township and Catawissa. Pineda-Chacon admitted to firing the weapon, but that didn’t save him from a trip to the federal pen.