HSI Nogales investigation results in man's 24-month sentence for attempted firearms trafficking
TUCSON, Ariz. — A judge sentenced an Arizona man to two years in prison followed by one year of supervised release on Feb. 22 following a probe led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Arizona.
“Weapons traffickers seek profits built on the bloodshed in Mexico,” said HSI Arizona Special Agent in Charge Scott Brown. “HSI stands firm to stop the flow of weapons south of the border and will aggressively pursue those who seek to evade our nations laws.”
Adan Gomez-Lopez, 26, of Nogales, Mexico, pleaded guilty to one count of smuggling goods from the United States.
On July 1, 2022, Gomez-Lopez attempted to exit the United States and enter Mexico at the DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales. During a search of the vehicle, Customs and Border Protection officers found 510 rounds of .223 caliber ammunition, 103 rounds of .556 caliber ammunition, 600 rounds of 6.5mm ammunition, 350 rounds of 9mm pistol ammunition, 100 rounds of .30 caliber ammunition, 20 rounds of .308 caliber ammunition and 50 rounds of 12-gauge shotgun ammunition. The ammunition was concealed within the vehicle’s quarter panels, speaker box and non-factory compartments. Gomez-Lopez admitted that he expected payment in exchange for delivering the ammunition to someone in Mexico.
Assistant United States Attorney Brandon M. Bolling, District of Arizona, Tucson, prosecuted the case.
HSI encourages members of the public to report crimes or suspicious activity by calling the HSI tip line at 866-347-2423. The tip line is manned 24 hours a day.
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 6,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.
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