Mexican national who fired shots into local restaurant parking lot sentenced to 27 months in prison for firearms, drug crimes

COLUMBUS, Ohio - A Mexican national who opened fire in a local taco restaurant parking lot was sentenced in U.S. District Court here today to 27 months in prison.

Abel Velasquez-Avecedo, 30, pleaded guilty in August 2025 to illegally possessing a firearm as an illegal alien and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine.

According to court documents, on April 11, 2025, Velasquez-Avecedo and another individual had an argument at Taco Nice restaurant in Columbus. The defendant fired multiple shots from a vehicle while driving near the restaurant.

Local law enforcement authorities found Velasquez-Avecedo to be in possession of a pistol as well as 44 small baggies of cocaine and five small baggies of methamphetamine.

The defendant has a prior conviction for assault and two prior convictions for operating a vehicle while intoxicated. The assault conviction was originally charged as aggravated burglary, kidnapping, rape and assault. At the time of this offense, Velasquez-Avecedo had absconded from probation supervision for the violent offense.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; announced the sentence imposed today by Chief U.S District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth A. Geraghty is representing the United States in this case.

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.

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