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Esteban Garcia-Gutierrez, 31, of Arcadia, is headed to federal prison for six years after troopers found him cruising with a loaded .45 caliber pistol on April 17, 2025. The gun was discovered during a routine traffic stop by the Florida Highway Patrol. The problem? Garcia-Gutierrez already had a rap sheet, making him a prohibited person under federal law.
Court documents reveal Garcia-Gutierrez isn’t a first-timer. He’s a multi-convicted felon with prior state prison sentences for aggravated battery and felony battery. Those convictions stripped him of the right to legally own a firearm. The loaded weapon seized during the stop sealed his fate.
The bust was a joint operation involving the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Florida Highway Patrol, and the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Simon Eth handled the prosecution, bringing the case to a close with Judge Sheri Polster Chappell handing down the six-year sentence.
Federal officials slapped this case with the “Operation Take Back America” label – a broad initiative aiming to crack down on illegal immigration, cartels, and violent crime across the nation. It’s part of a larger push to streamline efforts between federal task forces and local agencies.