MIAMI, FL – Gustavo Benitez Rodriguez, 22, a Honduran national with alleged ties to the notorious Little Havana Taliban gang, has admitted guilt to federal charges of possession of a firearm by an alien and illegal reentry after removal. The plea, entered on September 8, brings Rodriguez one step closer to facing significant time behind bars for flouting both immigration and weapons laws.
The case unfolded earlier this year, beginning on February 25, when law enforcement began monitoring Rodriguez’s social media activity. A post advertising a firearm for sale caught their attention. Rodriguez, who is not a lawful resident of the United States, then engaged in an online conversation with a potential buyer, attempting to arrange a transaction. Investigators also discovered that Rodriguez had a prior arrest record linking him to the Little Havana Taliban, raising concerns about his potential involvement in gang-related activities.
A subsequent search warrant executed on February 28 at Rodriguez’s Miami residence uncovered a disturbing cache of weapons. Inside his bedroom, officers found a Stoeger STR 9mm firearm stashed in his dresser drawer, conveniently located near his Honduran passport and identification. A second firearm, a Ruger ICS 9mm, was hidden beneath his mattress. Authorities also recovered a 9mm magazine loaded with 15 rounds of live Luger 9mm ammunition. The discovery paints a clear picture of a man actively possessing illegal firearms despite his unlawful presence in the country.
This isn’t Rodriguez’s first run-in with U.S. immigration authorities. He was previously removed from the United States on February 15, 2019, following a final order of removal. Undeterred, he illegally re-entered the country without obtaining the necessary consent from the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security, demonstrating a blatant disregard for U.S. law.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida and Field Office Director Garrett Ripa of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) Prosecutions Unit, Miami, jointly announced the guilty plea. ICE-ERO Miami led the investigation, with crucial assistance from the City of Miami Police Department and the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Roca Shaw is handling the prosecution.
Rodriguez is scheduled to be sentenced on December 5 before U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom. He now faces a potential prison sentence of up to 15 years, followed by up to three years of supervised release, and a hefty fine of up to $250,000. This case serves as a stark reminder that those who attempt to circumvent U.S. immigration laws while simultaneously engaging in criminal activity will be held accountable. More information can be found at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and the District Court for the Southern District of Florida (case number 25-cr-20244).
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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