Mexican Woman Pleads Guilty to Firearm Possession in Homicide Case

WICHITA, KAN. – In a chilling turn of events, Azucena Garcia-Ferniza, a 22-year-old Mexican citizen, has pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm connected to a fatal homicide in Salina, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Tom Beall.

The woman admitted that she unlawfully possessed a Glock model 30 .45 caliber pistol on May 7, 2015, with her expired visitor’s visa dating back to February 1998. Garcia-Ferniza’s crime was uncovered in the wake of a tragic incident where her boyfriend, Macio D. Palicio, Jr., killed 17-year-old Allie Saum under the mistaken belief that she was part of rival gang members.

Palicio faced justice in Saline County District Court and was sentenced to over 50 years for the shooting. Meanwhile, Garcia-Ferniza herself received 18 months of probation for attempting to conceal the weapon used in the murder from July 2016.

Scheduled for January 4th, Garcia-Ferniza’s sentencing promises another chapter in this grim tale of violence. Since August 2015, she has been held in custody.

Beall expressed commendation for Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson for their diligence in bringing Garcia-Ferniza to justice.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences faced by those who possess firearms illegally within our borders, even when they are not directly involved in the violent acts themselves.

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