Convicted Felon Sentenced for Possessing a Firearm
McALLEN, Texas – Alexis Nazareth Mendez, 22, of Edinburg, Texas, has been sentenced to prison for illegal possession of a firearm, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited by federal law of possessing a firearm. He pleaded guilty May 30, 2012.
Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez sentenced Mendez to 50 months in federal prison which will be followed by a three-year-term of supervised release.
On Jan. 9, 2012, Mendez was riding in a vehicle that passed by a residence in Edinburg, Texas. The vehicle came by a second time, at which time Mendez discharged a pistol at a person at the front if the residence. Officers from the Edinburg Police Department responded to the report of a gunshot having been fired and later observed a vehicle matching the one from which the shot was fired and initiated a stop of the vehicle. Mendez admitted to having discharged the firearm at the victim and then took officers to the location where hid the firearm. It was then discovered that Mendez had previously been convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in March 2008, thereby making his possession of a firearm and ammunition against the law.
Mendez has been in custody since his arrest where he will remain.
The investigation was conducted by the ATF. Assistant United States Attorneys Steven Schammel and Jason Honeycutt prosecuted the case.
###