Edwin Vergara-Cedillo, Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Alien, Illinois 2018

Edwin Vergara-Cedillo, 32, a citizen of Mexico, is headed to federal prison after being caught with a loaded handgun in O’Fallon, Illinois — just months after illegally reentering the U.S. following deportation. On February 22, 2018, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison on each of two federal counts: illegal reentry after deportation and possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. The sentences will run concurrently.

Vergara-Cedillo pleaded guilty to both charges on November 7, 2017, admitting in federal court that he had been previously removed from the United States and had no legal right to be in the country. He further acknowledged that, at the time of his arrest, he was in unlawful possession of a handgun and ammunition — a direct violation of federal law.

The arrest came on July 2, 2017, when O’Fallon police pulled Vergara-Cedillo over for violating an order of protection. During the stop, officers spotted a handgun in the console of the vehicle he was driving. The weapon and rounds of ammunition were seized immediately. Vergara-Cedillo has remained in continuous federal custody since that day.

As a previously deported alien, Vergara-Cedillo is strictly barred from possessing firearms under U.S. law. Federal prosecutors emphasized the danger posed by such violations, particularly in communities already grappling with gun violence. His criminal history and immigration status made the case a priority for federal enforcement.

The investigation was a joint effort between the O’Fallon Police Department and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), highlighting growing coordination between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. Evidence gathered at the scene and through immigration records sealed Vergara-Cedillo’s conviction.

Assistant United States Attorney Robert L. Garrison handled the prosecution. Donald S. Boyce, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, confirmed the sentencing outcome, underscoring the office’s commitment to enforcing immigration and firearms laws. Vergara-Cedillo will serve his sentence in federal prison, followed by potential removal from the United States upon release.

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