Two individuals from Honduras, Alexander Josue Viatoro-Arita, 20, and Olver Anacleto Amador-Calderon, 24, are facing federal charges for the unlawful possession of a firearm by an alien in Charlotte. This development comes after a criminal indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, Dena J. King, as reported by the U.S. Department of Justice on their official website. Viatoro-Arita and Amador-Calderon were identified by law enforcement as suspects in a drug trafficking investigation, leading to their arrest on January 14, 2025.
According to the official indictment and the accompanying criminal complaint, the encounter with law enforcement at a Charlotte hotel unraveled rapidly. FBI agents, alongside Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) and Gastonia Police Department officers, encountered the defendants and conducted a safety frisk which allegedly revealed concealed firearms on their persons. Notably, a .380 caliber Titan pistol was found with Amador-Calderon, while Viatoro-Arita was in possession of a stolen 9mm Taurus pistol with a partially destroyed serial number. Moreover, authorities claim to have discovered a significant sum of U.S. currency and what is suspected to be narcotics within the hotel room. The Department of Justice asserts that both men were illegally in the U.S. and had knowingly taken possession of the firearms.
Currently, the defendants remain in federal custody and they are facing the possibility of a 15-year maximum prison sentence if convicted of the firearm charges. It's integral to highlight, as reinforced in the official announcement, that these charges are solely allegations at this stage. Viatoro-Arita and Amador-Calderon maintain the presumption of innocence until - and unless - they are proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. This case serves as a reminder of the legal process and the rights it preserves for the accused, regardless of immigration status or criminal charges.
Investigation of the case is a collaborative effort between the FBI, the CMPD, and the Gastonia Police Department. Bringing the case against the defendants is Assistant U.S. Attorney Alfredo De La Rosa of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte. This case continues to evolve as law enforcement agencies work to thoroughly unravel the extent of the defendants' activities and compile the evidence required to firmly proceed through the justice system.
