Houston Republic

A resident of McAllen, Texas, has pleaded guilty to the charge of unlawfully being a felon in possession of a firearm. This was announced by U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

Michael Gallegos-Martinez, 44, was stopped by law enforcement on June 25, 2023, while driving a Cadillac CTS after failing to make a complete stop. During the traffic stop, officers noticed his nervous demeanor. Although he denied having firearms or narcotics in the vehicle, a K-9 unit alerted officers to conduct a search. This search uncovered a Rossi Model 461 .357 caliber magnum revolver in a grocery bag hanging from the gear shift, along with 25 grams of cocaine, Xanax pills, and approximately $25,000 in cash.

Further investigation revealed that Gallegos-Martinez is a former police officer who had been convicted previously for possession of a controlled substance—a felony that prohibits him from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law.

Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane accepted his plea and scheduled sentencing for February 2, 2025. Gallegos-Martinez faces up to 15 years in federal prison and could be fined up to $250,000. He will remain in custody until sentencing.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with assistance from the Alamo Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose A. Garcia.

This prosecution falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at reducing violent crime through collaborative efforts between federal, state, and local agencies.