A Gallatin Gateway man, Oscar Enrique Ruiz Rojas, 25, pleaded guilty to prohibited person in possession of firearms and ammunition in a U.S. District Court in Montana.
The crime occurred after law enforcement observed Ruiz Rojas with a pistol on his hip outside his house on two days in April, according to court documents. On April 24, law enforcement served a search warrant on his residence and located several firearms and ammunition.
Ruiz Rojas admitted that he had been in the United States illegally for the past six years after crossing the southern border at Nogales, Arizona. He further stated that he had purchased a .22-caliber firearm for $400 from an individual.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Ruiz Rojas faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
The court will determine Ruiz Rojas’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is set for December 18, 2024 before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen.
Ruiz Rojas was detained pending further proceedings.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case, which is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation.
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Key Facts
- State: Montana
- Category: Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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