Earlier today, U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger sentenced 38-year-old Kissimmee resident Giovanny Rivera-Sanchez to nearly five years in federal prison. This sentencing follows Rivera-Sanchez's guilty plea on August 21 for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, apart from serving 57 months behind bars, Rivera-Sanchez is also required to forfeit the Glock 22 .40 caliber pistol entangled in his offense.
With a history of felony convictions spanning from 2004 to 2008, Rivera-Sanchez was under a federal supervised release when the Orange County Sheriff’s Office discovered a loaded firearm in his residence on March 25, 2022. Executing a search warrant, officers found the Glock pistol loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition. Rivera-Sanchez admitted during an interview that he knew about the presence of the firearm in his home. Though Rivera-Sanchez now faces time, his sentencing marks a win for the Project Safe Neighborhoods—a coordinated effort to tamp down on gun violence.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a collaborative initiative between law enforcement at all levels and community members to reduce violent crime and gun violence. In May 2021, the Department of Justice revitalized PSN by integrating strategies to foster trust and legitimacy within communities, promote preventive measures by supporting local organizations, focus on strategic enforcement priorities, and critically evaluate the outcomes of these efforts.
The investigation into Rivera-Sanchez's case was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, along with the Orange County Sheriff's Office. Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Nate managed the prosecution.
