Above: Dominic Souza arrest photo | Tulare County Sheriff’s Office
Tulare County Sheriff’s Office TAGNET Detectives recently apprehended 19-year-old Dominic Souza, a known gang member in Ivanhoe, on suspicion of possession of unregistered firearms.
The arrest followed an investigation into information indicating that Souza was in possession of unregistered guns.
According to a press release by the Sheriff’s Office, TAGNET detectives reportedly tracked Souza down while he was driving in Ivanhoe and detained him during a traffic stop. A subsequent search warrant was served at Souza’s residence, where detectives discovered two unserialized guns, commonly referred to as “ghost guns,” as well as gang-related items.
One of the guns was identified as a short-barreled rifle on an AR-15 platform, while the other was a handgun platform made from Polymer 80.
Souza was taken into custody on suspicion of the possession of an unserialized weapon, gang member in possession of a firearm, and operating a motor vehicle without a license.
The Tulare County Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward and contact Detective A. Esquibel at (559) 733-6218. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call or text (559) 725-4194 or send an email to tcso@tipnow.com.
Ghost guns are a growing concern for law enforcement agencies across the United States. These unserialized firearms can be manufactured at home using readily available components, making them difficult to trace.
