Jhosmy Josue Perez-Alvarez, a 32-year-old Honduran national, has pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a firearm. The plea was entered on January 8, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey in New Orleans. This case involves violations of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(5)(A) and 924(a)(8).
The incident traces back to February 8, 2022, when an armed robbery took place in the parking lot of a church on N. Dorgenois Street in New Orleans. Officers from the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) responded and began searching for suspects in the area. During their search efforts, they found Perez-Alvarez hiding in overgrown grass near St. Louis Street with a Kel-Tec Model PF-9 nine-millimeter semi-automatic pistol.
Perez-Alvarez faces up to ten years in prison and could be fined up to $250,000 upon sentencing scheduled for April 10, 2025. He may also face up to three years of supervised release and must pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson commended the collaborative efforts of several agencies involved in this investigation: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Office of the Inspector General – Social Security Administration; and the New Orleans Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis is handling the prosecution as part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and dismantling transnational criminal organizations.
