A Modesto man, identified as 32-year-old Eleuterio Avalos, has been sentenced to over three years in federal prison for illegal firearm possession. The sentencing is reported to be the result of concerted efforts between local and federal law enforcement authorities, as indicated in a social media post from the Modesto Police Department.
According to the details shared in the Facebook post of the Modesto Police Department, Avalos was apprehended following a police chase that took place on November 18, 2022. It was during this chase that Avalos attempted to fully and swiftly to escape after a traffic stop, during which he pulled out a firearm from his waistband. Despite discarding it while fleeing, the firearm was subsequently recovered by the officers. Avalos' prior convictions for assault-related felonies had already prohibited him from possessing firearms under 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1).
The collaborative investigation mobilized resources from the Modesto Police Department's Street Gang Unit, the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Task Force, and the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office. Their combined efforts eventually led to federal charges being brought against Avalos by the United States Attorney’s Office.
As the Modesto Police Department stated in their public communication, these actions underscore "the commitment of local and federal law enforcement agencies to work together in removing illegal firearms from the community and holding offenders accountable for violent crimes."
