Illegal Alien from Mexico Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of a Firearm

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - An illegal alien from Mexico, living locally in Keswick, Virginia, pled guilty this week to a federal firearms charge for illegally possessing a gun while being in the United States unlawfully.

Javier Bernal-Lopez, 38, pled guilty this week to illegal possession of a firearm while being illegally or unlawfully in the United States.

According to court documents, on November 18, 2025, Victim 1 and another person came to the Albemarle County Police Department (ACPD) to report a domestic dispute which had occurred the previous day near Keswick, Virginia. Victim 1 described a violent encounter with her ex-boyfriend, Javier Bernal-Lopez, involving a firearm being shot through their entrance door.

Victim 1 advised detectives with ACPD that Bernal-Lopez always carries a firearm on his person. In addition, Victim 1 advised detectives that she had been dating Bernal-Lopez for several years and she knew him to be a Mexican National illegally present in the United States.

Authorities confirmed that Bernal-Lopez had twice been arrested by U.S. Border Patrol at Nogales, Arizona, in June 2004. Following both arrests he was allowed to voluntarily return to Mexico.

On November 25, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the defendant's home. During the search, law enforcement located a SCCY CPX-2 9mm semi-automatic handgun. The firearm was located in a bag along with Bernal-Lopez's Mexican passport. A box of ammunition, as well as an extended magazine, capable of holding more than twenty rounds were located within the home as well.

First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Special Agent in Charge Eric Weindorf for Homeland Security Investigations Washington, D.C. made the announcement.

The Department of Homeland Security and the Albemarle County Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sally J. Sullivan is prosecuting the case.