Court papers: Man with gun not approved to be in the US

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) – A motorist stopped for driving erratically in Biloxi had a semi-automatic handgun and is suspected of being in the United States without permission.

The Sun Herald reports a Mississippi Department of Marine Resources officer conducted a traffic stop Sept. 9 on a man who identified himself as 41-year-old Leo Morales. The Harrison County jail docket shows the discovery of a handgun led to a state charge of possession of a stolen firearm.

Further investigation revealed he is Leobardo Morales-Gonzalez, now held for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and for prosecution.

A federal grand jury indicted him Dec. 8 on an immigration and firearm violation.

The case was sealed until his initial court appearance Dec. 15, when Morales-Gonzalez pleaded not guilty.

Online jail records do not list an attorney for Morales-Gonzalez.