A Mexican national and prior felon was sentenced on Apr. 30 to over four years in prison after firing a gun at his neighbor’s dog, according to U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, ordered Edwin Soto, age 28, to serve 52 months in prison for being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, alien unlawfully in the United States in possession of firearms and ammunition, and unlawful reentry of a removed alien. Soto will also be subject to three years of supervised release following his imprisonment and is expected to face removal proceedings upon release.
The sentencing follows an August 2025 incident when law enforcement responded to reports of shots fired. Officers spoke with a witness who said someone had shot at his dog. When questioned by officers, Soto said that a dog had defecated in his yard but was reluctant to discuss firearms. A search warrant executed at Soto’s home led officers to discover four firearms.
Soto admitted that the guns were his but claimed he did not know he was prohibited from possessing them. Jail records indicated that Soto is a citizen and national of Mexico by birth. Court documents show that he previously pleaded guilty in state court for discharging a weapon into a dwelling in 2020 and had been deported from the United States before returning unlawfully.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with Homeland Security Investigations handled the investigation while Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan E. Michel prosecuted the case.
The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma contributes to community safety through its enforcement efforts according to its official website. The office is part of the U.S Department of Justice as outlined on its official website and employs more than 65 Assistant United States Attorneys per its official website. Its jurisdiction covers eleven counties including Tulsa County as indicated on its official site, where it enforces federal laws through impartial litigation and strategic partnerships according to the office’s description.
