SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- On Jan. 22, Guillermo Zarate-Martinez, 29-years-old, from Venezuela, was sentenced by the United States District Court Judge to 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm, announced by United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.

According to case documents, Zarate-Martinez is a citizen of Venezuela who was in the United States illegally in August 2024 where he was found in possession of three firearms in Mishawaka.

Zarate-Martinez had the firearms when he and several other individuals went to a local business where they threatened the owner in an attempt to recover an alleged debt.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Mishawaka Police Department.