By Laura McKnight, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

on September 08, 2016 at 8:15 AM, updated September 08, 2016 at 8:18 AM

A 34-year-old Mexican citizen arrested in Mandeville pleaded guilty Wednesday (Sept. 7) to possessing a gun while in the U.S. illegally, according to the U.S. Attorney's office in New Orleans.

Salvador Acosta-Salas, also known as Jamie Gonzales Jr., faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Acosta-Salas' charge -- possession of a firearm by an undocumented immigrant -- stemmed from a July 30 speeding stop in Mandeville, court documents show.

When pulled over, Acosta-Salas got out of his vehicle and produced a Mexican identification card for Mandeville police, but he did not have a driver's license.

When asked if he had any weapons, Acosta-Salas told the officer that he had a pistol in the center console of his truck. The officer looked in the truck and found a 9 mm semiautomatic pistol and two magazines loaded with ammunition, court documents show.

Acosta-Salas admited that he illegally entered the United States prior to July 30, court documents say. According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), he remained in the country illegally on the date he was arrested, with no pending status adjustments with Citizenship and Immigration Services, the documents show.

Along with possible prison time and a fine, Acosta-Salas could receive up to three years of supervised release after prison and a $100 special assessment.

U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier set sentencing for Dec. 15.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily K. Greenfield was in charge of the prosecution.

http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/...ds_guilty.html