After losing a lopsided decision in the ring to Floyd Mayweather, Robert Guerrero hopes that a potential fight with the justice system goes a little more in his favor.
During his time in New York to promote the fight with Mayweather, he was stopped in JFK airport when he tried to check in his firearm. In the much publicized incident, Guerrero was apprehended by the Port Authority police.
Because of the very strict laws in New York regarding guns, it did not matter that Guerrero had informed those in charge he had it, that it wasn’t loaded, or even that it was in a case. He was arrested at the scene and now faces charges that could possibly lead to a jail term of up to four years.
The exact charges filed against him are one count of criminal possession of a firearm and three counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. That specifically addresses the .40 caliber pistol and three magazines he had. His next court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday.
Richard Schaefer, Golden Boy Promotions CEO, has said that Guerrero had the gun because he was going to Las Vegas and hoped to use it at a gun range once he got there.
In another famous gun case in New York involving a professional athlete, Plaxico Burress arrested for illegal possession and discharge of a firearm back in 2008. For that, the football star spent 21 months in jail. Guerrero certainly hopes that his case is resolved with less of a penalty.
The arrest threatened, at least at first, to interfere with the fight between Guerrero and Mayweather. While that problem was avoided, there is no way to tell if the distraction in any way affected Guerrero’s preparations for the fight. However, it is unlikely to have made much of a difference, as Mayweather dominated the fight from the opening to final bell.
At a press conference before the fight, Guerrero hinted that the issue had been taken care of, and that “It was a misunderstanding.” However, failing to understand New York’s gun laws is not always easily navigated around. His weapon was registered in California, which means nothing in New York.
