Thursday, August 28, 2014

Utah Man and Idaho Falls Woman Plead Guilty to Possession of a Stolen Firearm in U.S. District Court

POCATELLO – Gustavo Alfaro-Garcia, 36, of Salt lake City, Utah, and Mirella Ileana Garcia, 27, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, pleaded guilty yesterday to possession of a stolen firearm, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Co-defendant, Maria Garcia, 26, of Salt Lake City, pleaded guilty to the same charge on August 13, 2014.

According to the plea agreements, on June 18, 2013, the individuals were stopped by the Idaho State Police while traveling southbound on Interstate 15, in Oneida County, Idaho. Inside the vehicle officers found numerous stolen firearms including a Smith and Wesson .357 caliber revolver, which had been stolen from a residence in Arimo, Idaho. Earlier that day, a witness had seen the individuals enter the residence where the gun was stolen.

The crime is punishable by up to ten years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and three years of supervised release.

Sentencing is set for November 19, 2014, before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Pocatello. Maria Garcia’s sentencing is set for October 22, 2014, also before Judge Winmill.

The case was the result of an investigation by the Idaho State Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.