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DEFENDANT PLEADS GUILTY TO ILLEGAL FIREARM POSSESSION IN TAMPA
Tampa, Florida – In a shocking turn of events, Walner Josue Alvarado-Sabonje (27, Honduras) has pleaded guilty to being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. Alvarado faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court records, Alvarado illegally entered the United States near Hidalgo, Texas in April 2019, and is subject to a final order of removal. On June 16, 2024, Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to multiple callers who reported hearing gunshots from the back of Alvarado’s home. The deputies received permission to search the backyard and found nine 9mm shell casings in the backyard.
Just weeks later, on September 22, 2024, sheriff’s deputies responded to a call from Alvarado’s wife, who told the dispatcher that Alvarado was intoxicated on the front porch of their home and acting recklessly with a gun. Deputies arrived approximately five minutes later, but Alvarado had left the home. A red Chevrolet Suburban sport utility vehicle registered to Alvarado was no longer parked at the house, so deputies determined that he had driven it elsewhere.
Minutes later, a deputy located Alvarado alone in the driver’s seat of his SUV parked at a 7-Eleven approximately one mile away from Alvarado’s home. Alvarado had two open beer cans in the center console and smelled like alcohol. After arresting Alvarado for driving under the influence of alcohol, the deputies found a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol in the center console. The pistol and ammunition are traceable to the offense and subject to forfeiture.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam W. McCall. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Project Safe Neighborhoods is a proven program that has been successful in reducing violent crime and gun violence in communities across the country. By bringing together law enforcement, community leaders, and other stakeholders, we can identify and address the root causes of crime and work together to create safer neighborhoods for everyone.
Alvarado’s guilty plea is a significant step forward in holding accountable those who engage in violent and reckless behavior. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that our communities are safe and free from the threat of violent crime.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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