Press release from the U.S. Attorney, Northern District of Florida

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jesse Jay Perez, a 28-year-old resident of Morgan Hill, California, has been sentenced to a three-year term in federal prison following his guilty plea for possessing ammunition as a convicted felon. This sentencing was announced by John P. Heekin, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.

In his statement, U.S. Attorney Heekin emphasized the importance of enforcing the law to ensure public safety, stating, “Securing our communities and streets demands that we rigorously pursue offenders such as this with the full weight of the law. I am grateful for the outstanding efforts of our state and federal law enforcement partners in investigating this case. My office remains steadfast in its commitment to prosecuting these offenders diligently.”

Court documents reveal that on January 1, 2025, Perez was stopped by law enforcement for riding a bicycle without the required rear-facing red light, as mandated by Florida State Statute. During the stop, officers discovered that Perez had an active felony arrest warrant from California. Upon arrest and subsequent search, authorities found 13 magazines, 380 rounds of ammunition, and all the parts needed to assemble a “ghost gun” semi-automatic rifle in his backpack. Perez had a prior felony conviction in California for the illegal manufacture, distribution, sale, or transport of an assault weapon.

This conviction and sentencing are the culmination of a collaborative investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives alongside the Gainesville Police Department. The case prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.