A Mexican national residing illegally in Dayton, Texas, has been indicted on a federal firearms charge, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs of the Eastern District of Texas.
Vicente Gerardo-Cruz, 47, was charged by a federal grand jury with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. The indictment states that on November 5, 2025, Gerardo-Cruz was found in possession of a firearm within the Eastern District of Texas. Federal law prohibits individuals who are unlawfully present in the United States from owning or possessing firearms.
If convicted, Gerardo-Cruz could face up to 15 years in federal prison.
The case is part of Operation Take Back America, which is described as “a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Reynaldo P. Morin is prosecuting the case.
Authorities emphasized that an indictment does not constitute evidence of guilt: “All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
