Vancouver Man Sentenced to 2.5 Years for Arsenal of Guns, Ammo

Vancouver man Joao Ricardo DeBorba, 48, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for federal felonies related to illegal possession of firearms, lying about his citizenship, and possessing a firearm silencer, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman.

In a brazen display of disregard for the law, DeBorba, a Brazilian national, acquired an arsenal of guns, ammo, and a silencer, despite being a convicted domestic violence offender. His crimes spanned multiple states, including Oregon and Washington.

According to records, DeBorba entered the United States on a tourist visa in 1999 and overstayed, falsifying documents to work and acquire firearms. In 2019, he was arrested for drunken driving and found with a Glock pistol, but that didn’t stop him from continuing to purchase firearms.

DeBorba lied about his citizenship on government forms to purchase guns in Portland, Oregon, and Lacey, Washington. His second arrest came in November 2019 for domestic violence assault, and he was ordered to surrender all firearms. However, in January 2022, he was convicted of a second case of domestic violence assault.

When law enforcement served a search warrant at DeBorba’s residence, they seized five firearms, including “ghost guns” with no serial numbers or manufacturers marks. He also had a large amount of ammunition, a workbench with firearms parts and tools, and firearms silencers.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Max Shiner argued for a five-year prison term, stating that DeBorba’s conduct became increasingly troubling after his first reported domestic violence incident. The case was investigated by the FBI, with assistance from local law enforcement agencies.

The case, US v. DeBorba CR22-5139-DGE, serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked gun ownership and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their crimes.

The sentence is a significant blow to DeBorba’s attempts to evade the law and a testament to the hard work of law enforcement agencies in keeping our communities safe.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Max Shiner, and the investigation was led by the FBI with assistance from the Vancouver Police Department, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), and the Social Security Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG).

DeBorba’s sentence serves as a warning to those who would seek to abuse the system and exploit loopholes in our laws. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that justice is served and that our communities remain safe.