Siblings convicted of purchasing 7,000 rounds of ammunition to transport to Mexico following HSI Laredo, multiagency investigation

LAREDO, Texas — Three siblings admitted to buying, transporting and concealing ammunition to be smuggled into Mexico following an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security’s Office of Export Enforcement; and the Laredo Police Department.

Rolando Herrera, 26, pleaded guilty Jan. 3 to conspiracy to smuggle ammunition with intent to promote a felony. His sisters, Ashley Herrera, 22, and Yamileth Herrera, 21, entered their guilty pleas Dec. 12, 2023. All are U.S. citizens and maintain residences in Laredo and Nuevo Laredo in the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico.

According to court documents, between May 16 and May 24, 2023, the siblings placed orders at a local sporting goods store for 7,000 rounds of 5.56-millimeter ammunition. Ashley Herrera placed the first order of 3,000 rounds, which she and her brother picked up. She later placed a second order in another person’s name for 3,000 rounds; that person picked up the order and delivered it to the Herreras’ parents’ home. Yamileth Herrera later ordered and picked up 1,000 rounds of ammunition.

Rolando Herrera admitted he intended to smuggle the ammunition to people in Mexico, provided the funds for all purchases, and requested his sisters order the ammunition for him. Ashley Herrera transported cartons of 6,000 rounds of ammunition to her parents’ home. She and Yamileth Herrera concealed the ammunition in a bedroom so their brother could pick it up and smuggle it to Mexico.

Law enforcement officials intercepted Yamileth Herrera, who was in possession of 1,000 rounds she had just purchased.

Authorities collected a total of 7,000 rounds of ammunition from the Herrera siblings’ smuggling operation.

A federal judge has scheduled sentencing for April. At that time, they each face up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 maximum fine. Rolando also faces up to 15 years for the additional charge of conspiring to smuggle ammunition out of the United States to promote a felony.

All three have been permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas Homero Ramirez is prosecuting the case.

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’ largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.