3 sentenced in south Texas for conspiracy to export firearms to Mexico

MCALLEN, Texas — Three individuals were sentenced Tuesday for conspiring to export firearms into Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas.

This investigation was led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Cassandra Camacho, 25, of Mission, Texas; and Juan Ivan Rodriguez, 34, and Nestor Leal-Cedillo, 24, of Reynoso, Mexico, were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez. Camacho was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison; Rodriguez and Leal-Cedillo received respective sentences of 37 and 60 months. All three had pleaded guilty to the charges; Leal-Cedillo pleaded guilty June 12, and Camacho and Rodriguez July 1.

According to court documents, on or about Feb. 27, law enforcement learned Camacho was looking to purchase firearms to be exported into Mexico. Between then and March 5, Camacho and Leal-Cedillo discussed the transaction with an undercover agent, agreeing to pay $17,000 in return for one .50-caliber semi-automatic firearm, three AK-47 assault rifles, one AR-15 assault rifle, and two fully automatic firearms.

On March 5, Camacho, Rodriguez and Leal-Cedillo met with an undercover agent at a location in Edinburg to finalize the sale and transfer, at which time Leal-Cedillo inspected the firearms. As other agents approached, Leal-Cedillo and Rodriguez fled on foot and were subsequently detained. Camacho was detained at the scene.

Leal-Cedillo’s sentence was enhanced since the court determined that he possessed a firearm during the course of the commission of the offense.

All will remain in custody pending transfer to a Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Assistant U.S. Attorney, Juan Villescas, Southern District of Texas, prosecuted this case.