A Rockford woman has been handed a nearly three-year prison sentence for her role in straw purchasing firearms, a scenario underlining the ongoing struggle against illegal gun trafficking. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Illinois, Jessica Barrera, aged 56, was convicted of providing false statements to a licensed firearms dealer and sentenced to 32 months on Monday.
Federal authorities explained that Barrera knowingly lied about being the actual buyer of five firearms in four separate transactions, intending those weapons for her son, Angel Barrera-Esteves. Having previously pleaded guilty, Barrera was found out after she made purchases in 2021 and 2022 for her son, who, due to legal restrictions, couldn't own a firearm or hold a Firearm Owners Identification card.
Following the sentencing, the details of the case paint a troubling portrait of illicit armament distribution, where Barrera not only bought the guns but went further, purchasing ammunition for her son. He later orchestrated the unlicensed sale of these weapons to others, as per the details shared by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Angel Barrera-Esteves, 27, is no stranger to the legal system, having pleaded guilty to federal firearm offenses. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 10. His case serves as a clear reminder from U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston and federal authorities that Project Safe Neighborhoods is firmly committed to breaking the cycle of violence driven by illegal gun ownership. In the meantime, Assistant U.S. Attorney Vincenza L. Tomlinson of the Northern District of Illinois, in collaboration with the ATF, remains vigilant in pursuing such cases.
