Illegal alien sentenced to federal prison for firearms-related charges

SAVANNAH, Georgia: An illegal alien from Honduras has been sentenced in federal court for receiving and shipping firearms and firearms parts.

The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker and was announced by Margaret E. "Meg" Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

Jefferson Flores-Padilla, 31, a citizen of Honduras, was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by immediate deportation after pleading guilty to Receipt of a Firearm by an Illegal Alien and Shipping Firearms by an Illegal Alien.

There is no parole in the federal system.

As described in court documents and testimony, Flores-Padilla and his co-defendant, Sindi Mencias-Escobar, 38, a citizen of Honduras, entered the United States illegally and took up residence in Savannah. As illegal aliens, they were prohibited by law from purchasing firearms. On multiple occasions in 2023, Flores-Padilla solicited an acquaintance to purchase numerous firearms for him, including AR-15s and Glock pistols. Some of these firearms were later recovered by Honduran authorities during law enforcement operations in that country.

Additionally, in early 2024, law enforcement authorities in Miami seized and searched a suspicious package that was outbound for Honduras and discovered hidden firearms and firearms parts. Flores-Padilla's fingerprints were lifted from the packaging materials. Additional investigation revealed that Flores-Padilla and Mencias-Escobar had shipped the package from the Savannah area.

Mencias-Escobar was previously sentenced in the case after pleading guilty to Misprision of a Felony and was referred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for immediate deportation.

Under federal law, it is illegal for any person who is illegally or unlawfully in the United States to ship, transport, receive, or possess any firearm or ammunition.

"The illegal acquisition and trafficking of firearms poses a direct threat to public safety, both at home and abroad," said U.S. Attorney Heap. "By intercepting these dangerous weapons before they could be smuggled out of our country, law enforcement successfully disrupted a dangerous pipeline. This sentence serves as a clear reminder that our office, along with our federal partners, will continue to vigorously enforce laws that keep firearms out of the hands of those who are unlawfully present in the United States."

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

"Firearms trafficking endangers communities and undermines the rule of law," said Jose R. Figueroa, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Miami. "HSI and our law enforcement partners in the United States and abroad will continue to identify and investigate those who illegally acquire and move weapons across borders. This sentence reflects our shared commitment to protecting the public, enforcing federal firearms laws, and ensuring that those who threaten the safety of our communities are held accountable."

This case was prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy P. Dean.