Peoria man sentenced to 28 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon

PEORIA (25 News Now) - A Peoria man was sentenced Wednesday to 28 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon - to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release.

At the sentencing hearing for Arnez J. Salazar, 26, of the 2800 block of Linn Street, the government presented evidence that on January 14, 2022, Peoria Police officers approached Salazar in a local pub in order to arrest him on an outstanding warrant.

During the arrest, officers located a handgun inside the inner pocket of a coat Salazar wore into the pub and then hung on the back of his chair. The gun was a .380 caliber, semi-automatic pistol loaded with ammunition, including a round in the chamber, according to a Department of Justice release.

At the time, Salazar had multiple prior felony convictions prohibiting him from lawfully possessing a firearm.

The statutory penalties for possession of a firearm by a felon are up to 15 years imprisonment, up to five years of supervised release, and a possible fine of up to $250,000.