A Mexican national has been indicted on multiple charges relating to firearm violations and immigration offenses, after an encounter with Salt Lake City law enforcement led to the discovery that he was carrying a stolen firearm while in the United States illegally. Gerardo Lopez-Gutierrez, 44, faced an initial charge following a March 6 complaint and court documents indicate he was approached for illegal camping on March 4, where the possession of a Ruger AR-556 rifle, a weapon reported stolen from Moab, Utah, was established, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Previously convicted for illegal re-entry, Lopez-Gutierrez is legally prohibited from owning firearms, however, at the time of his arrest, he was not only in possession of the rifle but was also confirmed to be in the country unlawfully after a thorough records check, he faces charges which include felon in possession of a firearm and alien in possession of a firearm along with illegal re-entry of a previously removed alien, his scheduled appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge was due to take place at 11:30 a.m. today at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse.
The case, which falls under the Operation Take Back America initiative, is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Victoria K. McFarland and marks a concerted effort to coordinate the Department of Justice resources against the incursion of illegal immigration and the purported threat from cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs). The initiative aims for the "total elimination" of such entities and their impact on American communities, an objective that underscores the charges faced by Lopez-Gutierrez, as stated by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah announced the indictment, the case is being investigated by a Salt Lake City Police Department FBI Task Force Officer with the assistance of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as part of their broader operation to combat crime linked to illegal immigration and associated activities.
