On Wednesday, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida confirmed that Kissimmee resident Giovanny Rivera-Sanchez, age 38, has entered a guilty plea for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Rivera-Sanchez is now facing up to 15 years in federal prison, with his sentencing hearing poised for December 17.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Rivera-Sanchez was previously convicted of felony offenses in 2004 and 2008 and had just begun to serve a period of federal supervised release, having been released from prison in September 2021. A mere six months later, on March 25, 2022, law enforcement officers carried out a search warrant at Rivera-Sanchez’s residence, only to quickly locate a Glock pistol and ammunition tucked away in the master bedroom's closet. Present in proximity to the firearm was paperwork that related to Rivera-Sanchez’s supervised release, as well as documentation for a prior drug trafficking conviction.
During an interview with officers, Rivera-Sanchez acknowledged that he was aware of the firearm's presence in his home. As a former felon, his possession of firearms or ammunition is strictly forbidden under federal law, making his plea a direct admission of guilt. The ramifications of such an admission are severe, with federal statutes dictating a stiff upper limit on the potential prison time faced by individuals in similar circumstances as Rivera-Sanchez.
The investigation into this case was a collaborative effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, with prosecution handled by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Nate. Rivera-Sanchez's case is being addressed under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by uniting law enforcement and communities. According to a Department of Justice press release, PSN's updated strategy, launched on May 26, 2021, focuses on building trust between the community and law enforcement, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting clear enforcement priorities, and rigorously measuring outcomes.
