Description: Salt Lake City, Utah criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with possession of stolen firearms and ammunition.

Jerime Montoya, age 29, of Salt Lake County, possessed a Springfield Arms Co. AR-15 rifle, a Taurus G3c 9mm handgun, a Walther PPS M2 LE edition 9mm handgun, and ammunition. Montoya admitted that he knew it was illegal for him to possess firearms after a previous felony conviction. He also admitted that he knew the firearms were stolen because he stole them from their lawful owners. The firearms were manufactured outside of Utah, and then traveled to Utah in interstate commerce.

U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah made the announcement.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Ruth Hackford-Peer of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Outcome: Defendant was sentenced to 60 months in prison.

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