Rockford woman admits guilt in purchasing guns for son, to sell to others

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — A Rockford woman has been sentenced to more than two and a half years in federal prison for purchasing five guns for her son, who was legally prohibited from owning firearms.

According to the U.S. Justice Department, Jessica Barrera, 56, pleaded guilty earlier this year to knowingly providing a false and fictitious written statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer, pretending she was purchasing the weapons for herself.

However, Barrera admitted that in both 2021 and 2022, she purchased five firearms in four separate transactions for her son, Angel Barrera-Esteves, 27.

Prosecutors said Barrera purchased the firearms knowing that her son would sell them to others.

Angel Barrera-Esteves pleaded guilty to federal firearm offenses and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 10th, 2025.

Barrera was sentenced Monday to spend 32 months in prison.