Please E-mail suggested additions, comments and/or corrections to Kent@MoreLaw.Com.
Help support the publication of case reports on MoreLaw
United States of America v. Arturo Contreras Soto
Date: 04-10-2025
Case Number: CR-24-02929-TUC-JGZ
Judge: Jennifer G. Zipps
Court: The United States District Court for the District of Arizona (Pima County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: e United States Attorney’s Office in Tucson
Defendant's Attorney:
Click Here For The Best Tucson, Arizona Criminal Defense Lawyer Directory
Click Here For The Best Tucson, Arizona Criminal Defense Lawyer Directory
Description:
Convicted Felon Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Possession of a Firearm
Arturo Contreras Soto, 37, of Tucson, was convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon following a bench trial on January 28, 2025.
On April 3, 2024, Tucson Police Department officers arrested Soto while he was riding an electric bicycle and carrying an open container of alcohol near downtown Tucson. The officers searched the satchel that Soto was wearing across his chest and found a 9mm handgun with a loaded magazine. Soto also had approximately 500 fentanyl pills and approximately $250 in cash in his pockets. Further investigation revealed that Soto had numerous prior felony convictions, including a conviction for motor vehicle theft, two separate convictions for drug-related felonies, and two separate convictions for aggravated robbery. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) then assumed responsibility for the case in collaboration with the Tucson Police Department as part of the National Public Safety Partnership (PSP).
The National PSP was established by the U.S. Department of Justice to provide an innovative framework to enhance federal support of state, local, and tribal law enforcement and prosecution authorities in enhancing public safety. PSP began as a pilot program, the Violence Reduction Network, in 2014 and is designed to promote interagency coordination by leveraging specialized law enforcement expertise with dedicated prosecutorial resources to promote public and community safety. PSP serves as a DOJ-wide program that enables participating sites to consult with and receive expedited, coordinated training and technical assistance, and an array of resources from DOJ to enhance local public safety strategies. This model enables DOJ to provide jurisdictions of different sizes and diverse needs with data-driven, evidence-based strategies tailored to the unique local needs of participating cities to build their capacities to address violent crime challenges. PSP has engaged with more than 60 sites since the program's inception.
The ATF and Tucson Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer H. Berman and Alessandra Bermudez, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
Tucson, Arizona criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with Possession of a Firearm
Convicted Felon Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Possession of a Firearm
Arturo Contreras Soto, 37, of Tucson, was convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon following a bench trial on January 28, 2025.
On April 3, 2024, Tucson Police Department officers arrested Soto while he was riding an electric bicycle and carrying an open container of alcohol near downtown Tucson. The officers searched the satchel that Soto was wearing across his chest and found a 9mm handgun with a loaded magazine. Soto also had approximately 500 fentanyl pills and approximately $250 in cash in his pockets. Further investigation revealed that Soto had numerous prior felony convictions, including a conviction for motor vehicle theft, two separate convictions for drug-related felonies, and two separate convictions for aggravated robbery. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) then assumed responsibility for the case in collaboration with the Tucson Police Department as part of the National Public Safety Partnership (PSP).
The National PSP was established by the U.S. Department of Justice to provide an innovative framework to enhance federal support of state, local, and tribal law enforcement and prosecution authorities in enhancing public safety. PSP began as a pilot program, the Violence Reduction Network, in 2014 and is designed to promote interagency coordination by leveraging specialized law enforcement expertise with dedicated prosecutorial resources to promote public and community safety. PSP serves as a DOJ-wide program that enables participating sites to consult with and receive expedited, coordinated training and technical assistance, and an array of resources from DOJ to enhance local public safety strategies. This model enables DOJ to provide jurisdictions of different sizes and diverse needs with data-driven, evidence-based strategies tailored to the unique local needs of participating cities to build their capacities to address violent crime challenges. PSP has engaged with more than 60 sites since the program's inception.
The ATF and Tucson Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer H. Berman and Alessandra Bermudez, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
Outcome:
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments:
About This Case
What was the outcome of United States of America v. Arturo Contreras Soto?
The outcome was:
Which court heard United States of America v. Arturo Contreras Soto?
This case was heard in The United States District Court for the District of Arizona (Pima County), AZ. The presiding judge was Jennifer G. Zipps.
Who were the attorneys in United States of America v. Arturo Contreras Soto?
Plaintiff's attorney: e United States Attorney’s Office in Tucson. Defendant's attorney: Click Here For The Best Tucson, Arizona Criminal Defense Lawyer Directory.
When was United States of America v. Arturo Contreras Soto decided?
This case was decided on April 10, 2025.