PORTLAND, Ore. — A Mexican national has been sentenced to federal prison after admitting to illegally possessing a firearm and unlawfully reentering the United States following a prior deportation, federal prosecutors announced.
Ramon Oscar Morales-Valencia, 47, was sentenced Thursday to 15 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. The federal sentence will run concurrently with a 29-month Marion County sentence he previously received after pleading guilty to possession of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Morales-Valencia was formally removed from the United States in 2010. On April 19, 2025, deputies with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office stopped an SUV he was driving during a traffic stop. As deputies approached, Morales-Valencia exited the vehicle, removed a Ruger 9mm pistol from his waistband, and placed it on the driver’s seat. Deputies also recovered methamphetamine from inside the SUV.
Morales-Valencia later pleaded guilty in Marion County Circuit Court to methamphetamine possession. On Sept. 16, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland indicted him on charges of alien in possession of a firearm and illegal reentry into the United States. He was later convicted on the federal charges.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford said the case underscores the government’s commitment to prosecuting firearm offenses involving prohibited individuals.
“Illegal possession of firearms and narcotics by prohibited individuals fuels gun violence in our community,” Bradford said. “Combatting gun violence is a priority, and my office will pursue those who think they are above the law.”
Jonathan Blais, special agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Seattle Field Division, said Morales-Valencia’s actions posed a significant public safety risk.
“As if his illegal reentry into the United States was not enough, Morales-Valencia intentionally chose to further break our nation’s laws by illegally possessing a firearm and methamphetamine,” Blais said. “The unlawful possession of firearms and narcotics by prohibited individuals poses a serious threat to the safety of our communities, and ATF will continue to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who endanger our citizens.”
The case was investigated by the ATF with assistance from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
Federal officials said the prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies and community organizations to reduce violent crime and gun violence through targeted enforcement and community partnerships.
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