Gilberto Joel Hernández Marín, Machinegun Possession, Puerto Rico 2024

A Trujillo Alto man has been convicted of a serious crime. Gilberto Joel Hernández Marín, 25, was found guilty of unlawful possession of a machinegun.

The conviction comes after a federal jury accepted evidence that Hernández Marín had possessed a modified 7.62 x 39 caliber Zastava Serbia AK-47 type pistol during a traffic stop in February 2019. The officers involved in the stop discovered that the weapon had been altered to fire as a machinegun and was loaded with 31 rounds of 7.62 x 39 caliber ammunition.

The case began with a routine traffic stop by Trujillo Alto municipal officers. Hernández Marín was detained and ticketed for having illegally tinted windows. However, the situation quickly escalated when officers discovered the machinegun.

The investigation, which was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), involved collaborating with the United States Attorney’s Office for Prosecution. United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow emphasized the importance of this case, stating, “The United States Attorney’s Office and its law enforcement partners will remain vigilant and aggressive in the investigation and prosecution of individuals in possession of illegal firearms. These types of violations are among the highest of priorities for us, and we will work tirelessly to remove illegal weapons from the streets.”

Special Agent in Charge of ATF, Robert Cekada, praised the municipal officers of Trujillo Alto for their role in the successful prosecution. He said, “I would like to thank the municipal officers of Trujillo Alto who working with ATF and the USAO, were able to successfully prosecute this individual. Working together, we can further increase public safety and send the message to the public that possession of illegal guns will not be tolerated in Puerto Rico,”

The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Vance Eaton and Assistant U.S. Attorney Pedro R. Casablanca of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Gang Section. Hernández Marín now faces a potential sentence of up to 10 years of imprisonment.

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