PHILADELPHIA, PA — Federal authorities have charged Marvin Enrique Pena-Portillo, a 38-year-old Honduran national residing unlawfully in Philadelphia, with possession of a firearm by a felon. His arrest and subsequent detention mark a significant step in the ongoing federal initiative to curb illegal possession of firearms and enhance community safety.
According to the criminal complaint, Pena-Portillo was taken into custody on April 15, 2025, by agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) during an enforcement operation targeting immigration violators. At the time of his arrest, authorities allege he was found carrying a loaded 9 mm semiautomatic pistol in his waistband.
Pena-Portillo’s criminal history includes a prior conviction in August 2024, when he pleaded guilty in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas to carrying an illegal firearm in public. For that offense, he was sentenced to two years of probation. The latest charges complicate his situation further, as federal law prohibits felons from possessing firearms.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, an expansive nationwide effort led by the Department of Justice to tackle illegal immigration, dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and reduce violent crime. Federal officials are leveraging resources across agencies to target offenders and safeguard communities. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, alongside ATF agents, spearheaded the investigation that led to Pena-Portillo’s arrest.
At a detention hearing held Monday, Pena-Portillo was ordered to remain in federal custody pending further legal proceedings. The charges against him remain allegations, and under the law, he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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