The US Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida announced the sentencing of a Mexican National to federal prison for possessing a firearm while unlawfully in the United States. Below is the official statement:
Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger has sentenced Jose Cruz Cienega-Gaona (41, Mexico) to one year and one day in federal prison for possessing a firearm while unlawfully in the United States. Cienega-Gaona entered a guilty plea in November 2024.
According to court documents, in May 2024, agents with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection began an investigation into Cienega-Gaona. Through their investigation, agents determined that Cienega-Gaona is a native and citizen of Mexico. Cienega-Gaona had been removed from the United States in 2006 and 2019 after it was determined he was illegally in the United States.
On July 9, 2024, agents spoke with Cienega-Gaona at a gas station near his home and he was arrested for being illegally in the United States. While interviewing Cienega-Gaona, agents learned that he had guns in his home. Agents executed a search warrant at Cienega-Gaona’s home and found four guns and ammunition. Because Cienega-Gaona was in the United States illegally, he was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elisibeth Adams.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
