Gabriel Cabrera, 23, of Sacramento, was sentenced on May 5 to eight years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez announced. The sentencing was reported by U.S. Attorney Eric Grant.
This case highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address gun violence and drug distribution in the region. Prosecutors say these actions are part of broader initiatives aimed at protecting communities from violent crime.
According to court documents, agents conducted a parole search of Cabrera’s home on March 28, 2025. During the search, they found a firearm and fentanyl hidden in another resident’s bedroom. Additional evidence included drug paraphernalia and a sales ledger discovered in Cabrera’s room. Officers also found a video on Cabrera’s cellphone showing him holding the same firearm as well as messages discussing fentanyl sales with other individuals. Authorities said Cabrera is prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions that include sale of a controlled substance, infliction of corporal injury on a spouse, and willfully discharging a firearm with gross negligence.
Cabrera pleaded guilty on September 9, 2025.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, Sacramento Police Department, and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Douglas Harman prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative that seeks to use all resources available within the Department of Justice against illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations while aiming to protect communities from violent crime perpetrators.
The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California represents the federal government in all litigation within its jurisdiction—prosecuting federal crimes such as this one—and maintains offices in Sacramento, Fresno and Bakersfield while serving an area spanning more than 87,000 square miles across 34 counties according to the official website.
