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Press Release

Winnebago Man Sentenced to 153 Months for Assault and Firearm Charges

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Nebraska

United States Attorney Joe Kelly announced that Roman Perales, age 22, was sentenced in federal court today in Omaha, Nebraska, for assault with intent to commit any felony and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.  United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Perales to 153 months’ imprisonment.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Following Perales’s term of imprisonment, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.   

On July 25, 2019, an altercation occurred outside of a residence in Winnebago, Nebraska. Perales was at the residence.  Perales grabbed a .22 caliber rifle and fired it multiple times at individuals outside of the residence.  A female victim was shot in the arm and bled from an open injury.

After shooting the first victim, Perales approached a second female.  The second victim was in a vehicle at the time.  The second victim told Perales that she was not involved in the altercation and just wanted to go home.  Perales pointed the rifle at her face and threatened her.  She believed that Perales was going to shoot her.  Perales later fled the scene and hid the ammunition and the rifle.

On July 25, 2019, Perales was on federal supervised release for a prior felony conviction.  Perales was previously convicted on June 15, 2015 of assault with intent to commit any felony, in the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska. 

This case is part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.

The case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Winnebago, Nebraska Police Department.

Updated August 14, 2020

Topics
Firearms Offenses
Indian Country Law and Justice
Violent Crime