BATON ROUGE, LA – Elmer Enrique Amaya Gonzales, 20, of Honduras, will spend the next 41 months in federal prison after being convicted of possessing firearms while unlawfully present in the United States. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson, comes after a probe into an armed robbery that took place last June, and underscores the ongoing federal crackdown on illegal weapons possession.
The case began unfolding on June 6, 2022, when East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to reports of an armed robbery on Innovation Park Drive. Two victims told investigators they were approached by three armed Hispanic males who relieved them of their belongings. The robbers fled in a dark-colored Toyota Corolla, leaving the victims shaken but unharmed.
Deputies quickly obtained security footage pinpointing a vehicle matching the description near the scene around the time of the robbery. The license plate number was identified, and the vehicle was later spotted parked on Bayou Fountain Avenue. Investigators observed Gonzales, identified as the driver, repeatedly entering and exiting the car. A subsequent search, authorized by a warrant, turned up a trove of incriminating evidence.
Inside the Toyota Corolla, deputies discovered masks, rifle magazines, and ammunition – items consistent with those used in the June 4th robbery. More critically, they found a Palmetto PSAK47 7.62nun caliber rifle and a CBC 715P .22 caliber pistol. Gonzales, identified as the vehicle’s primary user, was determined to be aware of the firearms and ammunition stored inside. A Honduran passport belonging to Gonzales was also recovered from the car’s center console, confirming his illegal status within the country.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), alongside the Department of Homeland Security and the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, jointly investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Eli J. Abad prosecuted the matter, securing the conviction and subsequent sentencing. Gonzales will face deportation back to Honduras upon his release from prison, effectively removing a potentially dangerous individual from U.S. streets.
This conviction is the latest in a string of federal cases targeting illegal firearms possession. Authorities emphasize that possessing weapons while unlawfully in the United States is a serious federal offense, carrying significant penalties. The ATF’s New Orleans Field Division played a key role in the investigation, highlighting the agency’s commitment to curbing gun violence and enforcing federal laws.
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