An Orlando man with a prior felony conviction is now facing a four-year stint behind bars after a federal judge handed down a sentence for illegal firearm possession. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, 35-year-old Xavier Hernandez-Gerena was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron after pleading guilty to the charges earlier this year on August 1.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred on July 5, 2022, when Hernandez-Gerena was stopped for a traffic violation, during which law enforcement officers smelled cannabis leading to a search of his vehicle; this search revealed a firearm in an opened small black bag near Hernandez-Gerena's lap, as he was not legally permitted to have a firearm due to his felon status, the firearm's discovery resulted in his arrest.
This case was part of a larger effort, namely Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aiming to curb violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and local communities. The U.S. Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2021, bolstering the initiative with strategies focused on establishing trust and legitimacy among communities, backing organizations that preempt violence, setting enforcement priorities astutely, and measuring the outcomes effectively.
Investigations were conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, while Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie A. McNeff headed the prosecution.
