Honduran National Pleads Guilty to Firearms and Immigration Offenses

MIAMI - A Honduran national pleaded guilty on September 8 to possession of a firearm by an alien and illegal reentry after removal.

According to the facts admitted at the change of plea hearing, on February 25, law enforcement officers were monitoring the social media account of Gustavo Benitez Rodriguez, 22, after observing a post advertising a firearm for sale. Benitez Rodriguez, a native and citizen of Honduras without lawful status in the United States, later engaged in an online conversation with an individual he believed to be a purchaser to arrange the sale. Benitez Rodriguez's prior arrest records also indicate ties to the Little Havana Taliban gang.

On February 28, officers executed a search warrant at Benitez Rodriguez's residence. Inside his bedroom, were two firearms: a Stoeger STR 9mm firearm located in his dresser drawer near his passport and ID, and a Ruger ICS 9mm firearm hidden beneath his mattress. A 9mm magazine and 15 rounds of live Luger 9mm ammunition were also recovered.

Benitez Rodriguez had previously been removed from the United States on February 15, 2019, pursuant to a final order of removal. Benitez Rodriguez re-entered the United States without the required consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled before U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom on December 5. Benitez Rodriguez faces up to 15 years in prison, followed by up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.

U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida and Field Office Director Garrett Ripa of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) Prosecutions Unit, Miami, made the announcement.

ICE-ERO Miami investigated the case with assistance from the City of Miami Police Department and the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Roca Shaw is prosecuting the case.

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at https://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at https://http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-20244.

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