Brawley Resident Sentenced for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm
EL CENTRO, Calif. — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced that on March 23, Salvador Villegas Jr. of Brawley was sentenced to 64 months in federal prison and three years supervised release by United States District Court Judge Janis L. Sammartino, for being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, Villegas Jr., was detained in violation of his parole Dec. 23, 2010 after several firearms were discovered during a parole search of his residence. ATF agents, Brawley Police Officers, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation–Parole conducted an investigation and identified Villegas Jr. as the owner of the firearms. On June 10, 2011 a federal criminal complaint was filed by ATF charging Villegas Jr. of being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Villegas Jr. was then turned over to Federal authorities to answer those charges. On Aug. 11, 2011 Villegas pled guilty to the federal charge.
ATF is committed to combating violent crime in Imperial County and will remain on the frontline with our state and local law enforcement agencies to ensure the public’s safety,
said ATF acting Special Agent in Charge Christopher Shaefer of the Los Angeles Field Division.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives–El Centro Field Office, Brawley Police Department, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office.
More information about ATF and its programs is available at www.atf.gov.
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