A Fairbanks man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for possessing firearms and body armor as a convicted felon, with an additional three years of supervised release to follow.
Court documents show that George Romero, 37, was on parole for a 2006 state felony conviction involving murder, assault, and robbery when an arrest warrant was issued for him on June 4, 2024, due to a parole violation. Two days later, law enforcement located Romero at a residence in Fairbanks. Officers observed him loading camping gear into a vehicle and later unloading it near an intersection while wearing camouflage and carrying multiple bags toward the tree line.
SWAT officers apprehended Romero after issuing verbal commands. A search found that he had body armor, several firearms, handgun magazines, loose ammunition, and another pistol in his bag.
On November 20, 2024, a federal grand jury indicted Romero for being a felon in possession of firearms and for being a violent felon in possession of body armor. He was convicted on all charges by a jury on April 4, 2025. The court cited the need to protect the community as part of its sentencing decision.
“Mr. Romero is a violent felon who repeatedly disregards the law and remains a serious threat to our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “Fortunately, the recent interaction with law enforcement did not escalate, and this sentence ensures the community will be safeguarded from the defendant for another decade. This sentence reflects the gravity of his crime and sends a strong message that those who illegally possess firearms and related supplies—especially individuals with violent histories—will face severe federal penalties.”
“George Romero has consistently demonstrated defiance to authority and a lack of respect for the law,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Romero, a convicted felon, armed himself with multiple firearms, ammunition and body armor and fled to avoid arrest for a parole violation. FBI Anchorage will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s Office to keep our communities safe.”
“George Romero has a long and violent history, and his decision to arm himself with multiple firearms and body armor while on parole showed once again the threat he posed to Alaskans,” said Alaska State Trooper Colonel Maurice Hughes. “This sentence ensures that he will no longer endanger our state. The Alaska State Troopers remain committed to working with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to hold violent offenders accountable and ensure public safety across our great state.”
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Alaska State Troopers, Fairbanks Area Narcotics Team (FANT), FBI Anchorage Field Office, Fairbanks Resident Agency, and ATF Anchorage Field Office.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Vosacek along with Trial Attorneys David Bernhardt and Lauren Weed from the Antitrust Division.
