⏱ 2 min read
BLOOMSBURG, PA – Nelson Pineda-Chacon, 31, a Honduran national living illegally in the U.S., will spend the next two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a firearm. Chief U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann handed down the 24-month sentence yesterday.
The case unfolded May 7th when cops responded to reports of gunfire at Pineda-Chacon’s Bloomsburg home. They found spent 9mm casings and a bullet scattered across his driveway, along with additional ammo in a truck parked outside. Pineda-Chacon later confessed to firing the gun into the ground during a fight with his spouse, claiming it was a way to ‘relieve stress.’ He then hid the weapon.
Officers recovered a loaded Beretta 9mm handgun from the basement of the residence. Because of his illegal immigration status, Pineda-Chacon was prohibited from owning a firearm. He initially entered the U.S. unlawfully in 2009 and was already facing deportation proceedings when the shooting occurred.
The investigation was a joint effort by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, the Pennsylvania State Police, Montour Township Police, and Catawissa Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tatum Wilson prosecuted the case.
Federal officials are framing the prosecution as part of “Operation Take Back America,” a broad initiative targeting illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations.
RELATED: robbery-2/” style=”color:#cc0000;”>Ex-Credit Union Worker Jailed for Fake Robbery
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More