South Texas man sentenced to 51 months for firearms straw purchase

MCALLEN, Texas — A south Texas man was sentenced in federal court Tuesday following his conviction for other people to make straw purchases of firearms on his behalf.

This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Alexis Lopez, 21, from Roma, Texas, was sentenced Aug. 28 by U.S. District Judge Randy Crane to 51 months in prison. The sentence was enhanced as the court took into consideration the fact that Lopez recruited and directed three straw purchasers to purchase a total of four .50 caliber rifles on his behalf.

From 2015 to 2017, these individuals bought a total of 10 firearms for Lopez, five of which were later recovered in Mexico. In one instance, authorities recovered a .50 caliber rifle in Mexico within 17 days of its purchase.

According to court documents, the court heard that the investigation began when a federal firearms license holder (a licensed dealer) referred information to law enforcement concerning a suspicious individual believed to be using an assumed name, who was attempting to purchase a grenade launcher. Authorities later identified the individual as Lopez.

Lopez has been and will remain in federal custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility, on a date yet to be determined.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Requenez, Southern District of Texas, is prosecuting this case.