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Alberto Saenz-DeLaCruz, a 33-year-old Mexican national, was stopped by law enforcement on December 8, 2025, in Lufkin, Texas, for a traffic violation. During the stop, Saenz-DeLaCruz, who was in the United States illegally, provided a Mexican passport for identification but did not have a driver’s license. A search of the vehicle revealed a firearm and drug paraphernalia, leading to his arrest and subsequent guilty plea for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Saenz-DeLaCruz, who had previously been deported from the United States, was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on August 4, 2026. As a prohibited person, Saenz-DeLaCruz is not allowed to possess firearms in the United States.
The case was part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, which aims to combat violent crime and make communities safe. The initiative brings together federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners to coordinate efforts and address specific violent crime and public safety challenges.
The sentencing of Saenz-DeLaCruz serves as a reminder of the importance of enforcing federal firearms laws and the consequences of violating them. The case was investigated by the ATF and the FBI, and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas.
