A Houston man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for illegal possession of a firearm after previous felony drug convictions, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Jaime Pena, 48, pleaded guilty on August 26. U.S. District Judge David Hittner sentenced Pena to 180 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release. The court noted that Pena had a significant criminal history and committed the offense while on parole for a prior drug conviction in Harris County.
Authorities responded to a shooting at Pena’s residence on March 15, 2024. They determined that Pena had fired a gun outside his home during an altercation with Nickie Mendell, another resident of the property.
During their investigation, law enforcement executed a search warrant and found approximately 33 pounds of marijuana, scales, narcotics bags, and about $67,000 in cash. Investigators identified one of the firearms recovered inside as the weapon discharged outside during the incident. A shell cartridge located in the driveway was matched to this firearm through the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network.
Federal law prohibits convicted felons from possessing firearms.
Pena will remain in custody until he is transferred to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility.
Nickie Mendell, age 52 and also from Houston, has pleaded guilty and is scheduled for sentencing on December 4.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Houston Police Department.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Smith prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which brings together law enforcement agencies and communities to reduce violent crime and gun violence. The Department launched an enhanced violent crime reduction strategy for PSN on May 26, 2021.
