Hammond Man Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison For Possessing a Firearm as an Illegal Alien

HAMMOND - Israel Castro, 37 years old, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm as an illegal alien, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.

"An armed illegal alien will serve two years in jail followed by a year of supervised release after yet again violating our nation's borders, laws, and sovereignty and being in possession of a firearm. On February 2, 2025, law enforcement responded to a report of gunshots fired at a residence on Cardinal Drive in East Chicago, Indiana, involving a white transit van. A witness identified Israel Castro as the shooter. Law enforcement located the van and detained Castro who admitted to having a weapon inside the van. A semi-automatic pistol was later recovered from the van. He had been previously convicted of Illegal Entry on May 15, 2014, in the Northern District of Indiana. As part of Operation Take Back America and Project Safe Neighborhoods, Homeland Security Investigations and the Lake County Sheriff's Office teamed with Assistant United States Attorney Kristian R. Mukoski to bring this case. Our nation is safer when armed illegal aliens are caught, incarcerated, and removed. The Defendant needs to return to his home country and not violate our nation's laws again," said U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Lake County Sheriff's Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristian R. Mukoski.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America 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.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice's nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys' offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department's commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump's Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.