Juan Espinoza, Jr., a 27-year-old resident of Tyler, has been sentenced to 48 months in federal prison for firearms and drug trafficking violations, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.
Espinoza pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm after a previous conviction for a crime of family violence and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. The sentencing was handed down by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on January 31, 2024.
The case unfolded on February 16, 2022, when a federal search warrant was executed at Espinoza's Tyler residence. During the search, law enforcement officers uncovered approximately 4,600 grams of marijuana, 476 grams of Psilocybin, five semi-automatic pistols, a semi-automatic rifle, a shotgun, multiple rounds of ammunition, and $12,145.00 in cash.
It was revealed in court that Espinoza had a misdemeanor conviction for domestic violence in Smith County in 2016, rendering him prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.
The investigation and prosecution were conducted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at reducing violent crime. PSN utilizes evidence-based strategies to address violent crime problems in communities, concentrating enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders. The program also collaborates with local prevention and reentry programs for sustained crime reduction.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation into this case.
