Bloomsburg Man Gets 2 Years for Illegal Gun

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BLOOMSBURG, PA – Nelson Pineda-Chacon, 31, is headed to federal prison for two years after a late-night argument turned into a reckless shooting in Columbia County. Chief Judge Matthew Brann handed down the 24-month sentence yesterday.

Cops rolled up to Pineda-Chacon’s Bloomsburg home May 7th after neighbors reported hearing gunshots. They found spent 9mm casings scattered across his driveway, along with a single bullet. More ammo was discovered in a truck parked on the property.

According to authorities, Pineda-Chacon admitted to blasting the gun several times into the ground after a fight with his wife – claiming it was a way to “relieve stress.” He then stashed the weapon in the basement. A search turned up a loaded 9mm Beretta handgun.

The problem? Pineda-Chacon is a Honduran national who entered the U.S. illegally back in 2009 and was already facing deportation proceedings. Federal law bars illegally residing aliens from owning firearms.

The bust was a joint effort by ICE, Pennsylvania State Police, Montour Township PD, and Catawissa PD. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tatum Wilson prosecuted the case, framing it as part of the larger “Operation Take Back America” – a DOJ initiative aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration and transnational crime.