North Texas man sentenced to 2 ½ years in federal prison for attempting to smuggle firearms and ammunition into Mexico

LAREDO, Texas — A man from Dallas was sentenced Monday to 2 ½ years in federal prison for conspiracy to defraud, smuggling goods from the United States, and making a false statement during the purchase of firearms.

This sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson of the Southern District of Texas. This investigation was conducted by the following federal agencies:  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Martin Lopez-Villela, 51, a U.S. permanent resident residing in Dallas, Texas, was sentenced Oct. 27 by U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana to 30 months in federal prison.  As a convicted felon, he is expected to face deportation proceedings after he’s released from federal prison. At the hearing, Judge Saldana noted how Lopez-Villela promoted violence in Mexico by attempting to smuggle firearms and ammunition used for military assault weapons and semi-automatic firearms.  Lopez-Villela pleaded guilty to the charges April 4.

A straw purchase, as it is commonly referred, occurs when the true purchaser solicits a middleman to conduct a firearm transaction for him. The true purchaser does not want to reveal his identity, frequently because federal law prohibits him from purchasing firearms.

According to court documents, on Feb. 13 Lopez-Villela drove a 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche to the Lincoln Juarez Bridge in Laredo, attempting to exit the U.S. and enter Mexico. At that time, he was questioned and he gave a negative declaration for firearms and ammunition. Upon inspection, agents and officers discovered two .22-caliber semi-automatic firearms and five boxes that contained 300 rounds of various handgun ammunitions.

Lopez-Villela was traveling to San Luis Potosi, Mexico, to deliver the firearms and ammunition. He admitted that while in Dallas, he purchased the two firearms from a firearms dealer and was to transport them and the ammunition into Mexico. He expected to be paid $450 upon delivery.

Lopez-Villela will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sanjeev Bhasker, Southern District of Texas, prosecuted this case.