A Honduran national, Mario Ramon Mendoza-Martinez, was sentenced on March 20 to 10 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to address crimes involving firearms and immigration violations.
Court documents show that Mendoza-Martinez, age 26, was arrested by the Saraland Police Department on September 23, 2025. Officers had stopped him for a traffic violation and found he could only produce a Honduran identification card. U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed that Mendoza-Martinez was not lawfully present in the United States. A search of his vehicle led officers to discover a Winchester model 190 .22 caliber rifle along with 41 rounds of ammunition. He also has a prior conviction from the Western District of Texas for illegal entry.
Judge DuBose imposed a sentence that includes one year of supervised release after incarceration and ordered Mendoza-Martinez to pay $100 in special assessments. Upon completion of his prison term, he will be referred to immigration officials for deportation proceedings.
The investigation involved the Saraland Police Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Beth Stepan prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative using resources from the Department of Justice aimed at addressing illegal immigration issues as well as eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations.
