On Tuesday, Milton Rayo Castillo, 26, from Costa Rica, was sentenced by Judge Wendy Vitter to 52 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm as an undocumented immigrant. He will also serve three years of supervised release and pay a $100 special assessment fee, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Rayo Castillo was arrested in Kenner, Louisiana, on March 10, 2024, after pointing a nine-millimeter pistol at a patron in a restaurant. He was charged for unlawfully possessing a firearm as an undocumented immigrant, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program aimed at reducing violent and gun crime through law enforcement and community cooperation. The updated Project Safe Neighborhoods strategy, starting May 26, 2021, focuses on enforcement, community engagement, and violence prevention. Assistant U.S. Attorney Spiro G. Latsis was praised for managing the case, while the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Kenner Police Department were recognized for their successful investigation and contribution to safer neighborhoods, as stated by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
