In a recent case in Nashville, Elmer Humberto Aparicio Castillo, a 28-year-old man, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. Castillo, originally from Venezuela, was found to be living in the United States unlawfully and has a history of immigration-related offenses.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Robert E. McGuire, this case highlights the government’s ongoing commitment to enforcing laws, especially when it comes to individuals prohibited from carrying firearms.
Here’s how the situation unfolded: On January 8, 2025, agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Nashville, alongside other law enforcement officers, executed a federal search warrant at a home on Hobson Pike in Antioch, Tennessee. When the officers arrived, five men, including Castillo, attempted to flee from the back of the house. All were quickly caught.
During a safety sweep after his arrest, authorities discovered a Glock 23 handgun, equipped with an extended magazine capable of holding 31 rounds, though it was loaded with 19 rounds of 9mm ammunition. Castillo, after being read his Miranda rights, confessed that he had been carrying the gun and tossed it aside as he fled the scene.
The investigation is being led by Homeland Security Investigations and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel M. Stephens handling the prosecution.
It’s important to note that while Castillo has been charged, a complaint is simply an accusation, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
