Nelson Geovany Pineda-Chacon, a 31-year-old Honduran citizen residing illegally in the United States, was sentenced on Mar. 18 to 24 months in prison for illegal possession of a firearm, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address crimes involving firearms and immigration violations. Pineda-Chacon’s sentencing is part of broader initiatives aimed at reducing violent crime and enforcing immigration laws.
Authorities responded to Pineda-Chacon’s residence in Bloomsburg, Columbia County, Pennsylvania on May 7, 2024, after receiving a report of shots fired. Officers found three spent 9-millimeter shell casings and a bullet in his driveway, as well as additional ammunition in a truck parked nearby. During an interview with law enforcement, Pineda-Chacon admitted he had argued with his spouse and discharged the firearm into the ground “to relieve stress.” He also told officers he hid the weapon in his basement. Police later seized a loaded 9-millimeter Beretta handgun from that location. As an undocumented immigrant, Pineda-Chacon was not legally allowed to possess a firearm.
Pineda-Chacon entered the United States illegally in 2009 and was undergoing removal proceedings at the time of the offense. The investigation involved ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, Pennsylvania State Police, Montour Township Police Department, and Catawissa Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Tatum Wilson prosecuted the case.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America, described as “a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.”
