Convicted Arizona felon sentenced to 5 years in prison for illegal firearm possession

PHOENIX — A Tucson man has been sentenced to 60 months in prison for illegal firearm possession by a convicted felon, authorities announced on Thursday.

Arturo Contreras Soto, 37, was sentenced Tuesday after a bench trial on Jan. 28.

Tucson Police Department officers arrested Soto on April 3, 2024, when they found him riding an electric bicycle near downtown Tucson with an open container of alcohol.

Authorities searched Soto’s satchel and uncovered a 9mm handgun with a loaded magazine. They also found approximately 500 fentanyl pills and $250 in his pockets.

Upon investigating, authorities learned that Soto had multiple prior felony convictions, including motor vehicle theft, drug-related felonies and aggravated robbery.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives later took over the case alongside the Tucson Police Department under the National Public Safety Partnership (PSP).

The PSP is a program created by the U.S. Department of Justice with the goal of enhancing public safety through federal support of state, local and tribal law enforcement and prosecutors.

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