SPRINGFIELD, MO. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Missouri, Western), published as received.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Guatemalan national illegally residing in the Taney County, Missouri area, was sentenced today in federal court for one count of Illegal Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Immigrant, and Illegal Entry into the United States.

Edilberto Gonzalez-Barrera, 40, was sentenced today before District Court Judge Douglas Harpool for the offense of an illegal immigrant in possession of a firearm and illegally entering the United States.  Gonzalez-Barrera was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and one year of post release supervision, and will be deported to his native country of Guatemala immediately upon his release from prison. 

On March 29, 2026, officers with the Branson, Missouri Police Department responded to Cox Hospital in Branson, in response to a male who had come into the hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound.  Officers learned that Mr. Gonzalez-Barrera, an individual who illegally entered the United States, had possessed a firearm, and as he was cleaning the firearm, it accidentally discharged, shooting the lower end of one of his fingers off.  Upon determining that Mr. Gonzalez-Barrera was illegally within the United States, local law enforcement contacted agents with the Department of Homeland Security – Immigration Customs Enforcement.  Agents responded and determined that Mr. Guzman-Guerra was illegally in the United States, as he was a citizen of Guatemala, without permission to enter or remain within the United States. 

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security-Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Branson, Missouri Police Department.

Operation Take Back America

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.