An Oklahoma County man has been sentenced to over seven years in federal prison for illegal firearm possession following a road rage incident. Jesus Flores, 42, received a 92-month sentence on charges stemming from an incident where he shot another driver in the head after being cut off on the highway, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office. The victim has since recovered from their injuries. The violent encounter escalated quickly, with Flores apparently unable to keep himself from chasing down and shooting at the car that had offended his sense of road propriety, subsequently inflicting grave harm.
Law enforcement discovered two firearms in Flores's possession, hidden within a child’s diaper bag, following the May 30, 2024, assault. Flores, who had a prior felony record including charges for carrying a concealed weapon and inflicting injury on an intimate partner, pleaded guilty to federal charges on December 17, 2024. As stated by the U.S. Attorney's Office, he admitted knowingly to having possessed firearms despite his previous convictions.
At the sentencing on Monday, U.S. District Judge David L. Russell handed down the prison term that will be followed by three years of supervised release. "The need to protect the public from further crimes by Flores" was underscored by Judge Russell as a key factor in the sentencing, as per a report by the U.S. Attorney's Office. The proceedings provide a clear signal of the weight carried by federal laws when it comes to the possession of firearms by convicted felons, especially those who have demonstrated violent behavior.
This case was brought to its conclusion as part of "Operation 922" and "Operation Shots Fired," key initiatives under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods, which aims to staunch the bleeding flow of gun violence and enforce firearms laws vigorously. These operations particularly focus on prosecuting federal firearms violations linked to domestic violence and on targeting criminal activities involving the discharge of firearms. Additional information on these initiatives can be found on the Department of Justice's website. Flores's case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Oklahoma City Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacquelyn M. Hutzell leading the prosecution.
