An El Salvadoran national has been handed down a federal prison sentence for unlawfully possessing a firearm. Edgar Yovani Perez-Gutierrez, age 40, received a sentence of 12 months and 1 day of imprisonment, in addition to 3 years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment fee, the U.S. Attorney's Office reported on Tuesday.
The conviction stems from an April 10, 2025, incident in which Perez-Gutierrez, who was in the U.S. without authorization, was found in possession of a Glock handgun. His arrest resulted from a coordinated effort by the New Orleans Police Department, the FBI, and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations.
U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon presided over the case after Perez-Gutierrez pleaded guilty to being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(5)(A) and 924(a)(8). Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman of the Narcotics Unit handled the prosecution.
The case against Perez-Gutierrez is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative targeting illegal immigration, dismantling cartels, and addressing violent crime. The Department of Justice is using resources from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods to support this effort.
