Juan Carlos Contreras-Najarro was sentenced on Mar. 9 to 48 months in federal prison after being convicted of being an alien in possession of a firearm and a felon in possession of a firearm, according to Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge D. P. Marshall, Jr.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address crimes involving firearms and individuals with prior felony convictions or immigration violations.
Contreras-Najarro, age 32 and originally from Guatemala but residing in Little Rock, was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 5, 2024, on two counts related to firearm possession. He pleaded guilty to both counts on January 21, 2025. In addition to his prison term, he received three years of supervised release; there is no parole in the federal system.
According to the investigation, officers from the Little Rock Police Department stopped Contreras-Najarro on January 20, 2024, after observing him driving a stolen Honda. During the stop, Contreras-Najarro told officers that the vehicle had been “given to him.” A search revealed methamphetamine on his person and a defaced Lorcin .380 caliber firearm inside the vehicle. Officers also found drug paraphernalia and items belonging to multiple victims inside the car.
Further investigation determined that Contreras-Najarro had entered the United States illegally approximately 13 or 14 years ago and had previous felony convictions for drug offenses and forgery.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, which aims to use Department of Justice resources against illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators.
The United States Department of Homeland Security led the investigation with help from the Little Rock Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Shelby Shelton prosecuted the case.
