Mexican National Joel Terrazas Olvera Sentenced to 21 Months for Illegal Gun Possession

Jackson, MS – Joel Terrazas Olvera, a 51-year-old Mexican national living in the United States illegally, has been sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

According to court documents, Olvera was riding as a passenger in a vehicle that was pulled over by a Rankin County Sheriff’s Deputy on September 19, 2023. During the stop, the deputy found Olvera in possession of a firearm.

A federal grand jury indicted Olvera for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. He pled guilty on February 23, 2024.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Goff prosecuted the case as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program.

U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee, Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans, and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement.

The Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.