Mountain View Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm Possession Charges

Vernon Santiago admitted in federal court earlier this week to charges that allege he unlawfully possessed firearms and ammunition while both a convicted felon and an unlawful user of controlled substances. Santiago, 45, of Mountain View entered the guilty plea on Jan. 5-6, 2026 before the U.S. District Court. Sentencing is scheduled for April 22, 2026.

Court records show the charges stem from a January 2024 law enforcement search during which Santiago fled through a window and discarded a backpack. The backpack contained two firearms identified in the records as a stolen Colt .45 and a Ruger 9mm, along with ammunition and magazines. Prosecutors brought the federal counts under statutes that bar convicted felons and illegal drug users from possessing firearms and ammunition.

Under the statutes applied in the case, Santiago faces a statutory maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison, in addition to possible supervised release and fines. The federal charging documents also addressed bond and pretrial conditions handled as part of the case procedure in U.S. District Court.

For residents of Big Island County, the case underscores continuing concerns about illegal firearms and the intersection of substance abuse with violent crime risk. Stolen guns recovered in local investigations can be linked to broader patterns of trafficking and reuse in other offenses, increasing the stakes for community safety. The involvement of federal authorities reflects the seriousness with which such possession cases are treated when they involve stolen weapons or defendants with disqualifying criminal histories.

Local law enforcement and federal partners often collaborate on investigations of this type, combining resources to trace stolen firearms and pursue federal charges that carry stiffer penalties than some state-level offenses. For a geographically isolated community like the Big Island, successful prosecutions can remove dangerous weapons from circulation and serve as a deterrent to future offenses.

Santiago will return to federal court for sentencing on April 22, 2026, when a judge will consider the statutory guidelines, the facts of the case, and any victim or community impact statements as part of the penalty determination.