Salvador Acosta-Salas Sentenced for Firearm Possession

A Mexican national with no legal standing in the United States was sentenced today for illegally possessing a loaded 9 mm pistol during a routine traffic stop in Mandeville, Louisiana. Salvador Acosta-Salas, age 34, admitted to federal authorities that he had a firearm stashed in his truck’s center console — a violation of U.S. law that landed him behind bars for seven months.

U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier handed down the sentence after Acosta-Salas pleaded guilty to a single count indictment for possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. In addition to his prison term, Acosta-Salas will face one year of supervised release. Upon completion of his sentence, he will be turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for removal proceedings, marking the end of his unlawful stay in the country.

The arrest unfolded on July 30, 2016, when Mandeville Police pulled Acosta-Salas over for speeding. He exited his vehicle and presented only a Mexican identification card, lacking a valid driver’s license. When questioned about weapons, Acosta-Salas confessed to having a pistol in the truck. Officers recovered a Taurus Model PT 111 Pro, 9 mm semi-automatic pistol, serial number TDO85685, along with two loaded magazines.

Court documents confirm that Acosta-Salas had entered the United States illegally prior to the traffic stop and had no pending immigration status adjustments with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. His unauthorized presence, combined with possession of a deadly weapon, triggered immediate federal prosecution under statutes prohibiting non-citizens from owning firearms.

The case was jointly investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Mandeville Police Department. Federal prosecutors hailed the collaboration as critical to holding Acosta-Salas accountable and removing a weapon from the streets.

Assistant United States Attorney Emily K. Greenfield led the prosecution. U.S. Attorney Kenneth A. Polite commended the investigative agencies for their swift action, reinforcing federal efforts to target firearms violations involving undocumented individuals. The conviction serves as a stark reminder: illegal entry plus illegal weapons equals hard time.