Published September 17, 2009 09:16 am - Sept. 17, 2009

Local man pleads guilty to illegal gun possession


By BOB GIBBINS





MUSKOGEE – A Tahle-quah man pleaded guilty Wed-nesday to being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm.

Fernando Eligio Salinas, 35, entered the plea before U.S. Magistrate Kimberly West. The charges against Salinas, also known as La Penna and Fernando Salinas Garza, stemmed from a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms investigation. He was indicted in August 2009.

U.S. Attorney Sheldon Sperling said Salinas was in possession of a shotgun, three rifles and two pistols Aug. 5. As an illegal alien, Salinas is prohibited from possessing any firearms. He had been deported from the U.S. on three separate occasions and re-entered the country through Brownsville, Texas, in 2008.

West ordered completion of a pre-sentence report. Salinas will stay in the U.S. Marshal Service custody pending sentencing. Sperling said the statutory range of punishment is up to 10 years in prison and/or up to $250,000 in fines. A preliminary calculation of the sentencing guidelines projects an advisory sentencing range of 12-18 months in prison.



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