Mexican Man Charged with Unlawfully Possessing a Firearm

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that on March 31, 2026, Brian Alexis Baldonado Belmontes, a Mexican citizen, was charged in a criminal complaint in the District of Nebraska for unlawfully possessing a firearm while illegally being in the United States. He is currently being held in federal custody on the charge.

Per the criminal complaint, on March 22, 2026, a detective with the Omaha Police Department was monitoring a social media account of a juvenile born in 2008. The video appeared to show the juvenile firing a .22 caliber AR-style rifle in the air approximately 20 times. Law enforcement later located the area of the shooting-the 5200 block of South 38th Street in Omaha. Officers went to the scene and found approximately 23 spent .22 caliber cartridge cases and two live .22 caliber rounds. They also found a vehicle that had been struck by bullets with approximately six defects. While processing the scene, the juvenile and Baldonado Belmontes approached officers and admitted to shooting the truck. Baldonado Belmontes later provided additional information to law enforcement, including advising where the rifle used in the shooting was located. Officers went to that location and recovered a Smith and Wesson, M&P 15-22, .22 caliber rifle.

Baldonado Belmontes admitted that he crossed into the United States illegally. According to the Department of Homeland Security, he is a foreign national and a citizen of Mexico. He illegally entered the United States at an unknown date and location.

This case is being investigated by the Omaha Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Homeland Security Investigations.

A complaint is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted, he is subject to a term of imprisonment of up to 15 years.