News Releases and Statements
News Releases and Statements
A judge sentenced Luis Carlos Martinez-Chacon, 35, of Chihuahua, Mexico, to two years in prison and one year of supervised release on Feb. 22.
Kevin Durazo, 23, of Douglas, pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting making false statements in connection with acquisition of a firearm and one count of making false statements in connection with acquisition of a firearm.
Adan Gomez-Lopez, 26, of Nogales, Mexico, pleaded guilty to one count of smuggling goods from the United States.
A joint investigation involving HSI Norfolk, the ATF, the Virginia State Police and the Isle of Wight Sheriff’s Office led to an 81-month prison sentence for Ronald Devon Matthews, 36, of Isle of Wight, Virginia.
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas sentenced Hector Hernandez, a 40-year-old Falfurrias resident, to 66 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Hernandez pleaded guilty to the charges Sept. 21.
A federal grand jury in Del Rio returned an indictment charging Jose Guadalupe Martinez-Ortiz, 28, of Garden City, Kansas.
According to court documents, Ivan Sanchez-Jorge, 39, of Clearwater, Florida was selected for vehicle inspection by CBP at Eagle Pass on Dec. 3 and gave multiple negative declarations for weapons, ammunition and currency in excess of $10,000.
According to court documents, Jose Jesus Hernandez-Valle, 54, conspired with others to smuggle a 9mm pistol, a .40 caliber pistol, and more than 200 rounds of ammunition and other related firearm accessories into Mexico.
According to court documents, on Dec. 4, Customs and Border Protection officers encountered Santos Lozano-Martinez, 36, at the Camino Real International Bridge II in Eagle Pass. Investigators discovered a firearm and ammunition during an inspection of Lozano-Martinez’s vehicle.
Adrian Guadalupe Valdez, 45, of Wendel, Idaho, previously pleaded guilty to the smuggling of goods from the United States.
A Tucson federal grand jury returned an indictment charging 49 firearms-related offenses against 12 people following a multiagency investigation, which included the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, HSI. CBP Office of Field Operations, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The following individuals were indicted: Victor Coronado; Fernando Palomares, Jr.; Julissa Leonor Torres; Carlos Fernando Palomares-Leon; Briana Marie Montpetit; Karla Romero; Avery Danelle Gipson; Kevin Allen Lapedus; Ray Alberto Laborin; Elizar Olivares; Kyle Rene Fazlollah; Ty-Jhai Damon Grigsby.
The indictment alleges that the 10 individuals were members of a Tucson-based firearms trafficking organization. The investigation leading to their indictment involved a series of firearms transactions that resulted in firearms being seized in the Republic of Mexico.
Gabriel Joseph Bustamante, 43, was sentenced Sept. 28 to 17.5 years in prison for possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and for being a felon in possession of firearms. He will also be on a five-year supervised release program following the completion of his prison sentence.
Richard Orlinski “Sugar” Sanchez, 44, was sentenced to 23 years in prison after pleading guilty to various drug, weapons and money laundering charges, following an investigation by HSI. The DEA, USMS, the Chaves County Metro Narcotics Task Force, the Pecos Valley Drug Task Force, and IRS participated in the case.
Manuel Moya, 28, was sentenced in the Southern District of Texas to 25 years in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. Moya was convicted on July 27 of possessing a firearm as a felon and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
Operation Trigger VII, which took place Sept. 24 – 30, saw officers from 19 countries coordinate controls at airports, seaports, land border, and inland hotspots, acting on intelligence pointing to organized crime groups and individuals involved in firearms trafficking.
Juan Jose Roque, 36, illegally residing in Garland, was sentenced Aug. 29 by a federal judge to serve 41 months in prison and is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.
Over the last three months, HSI has seen a substantial increase in the number of weapons, along with a serious increase on the caliber and type of firearms, being illegally trafficked. Some of those weapons include .50 caliber sniper rifles, 308 rifles, and a belt fed machine gun.
Denis Matute pleaded guilty to two counts of interference with commerce by robbery and two counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence on Nov. 2, 2021, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
On Aug. 2, Osiel Cardenas Jr., 30, from Brownsville, admitted he attempted to purchase 10 assault rifles to export into Mexico. Cardenas is the son of Osiel Cardenas-Guillen, the former head of the Gulf Cartel who was convicted and sentenced to 25 years in federal prison.
Daniel Gallegos, 67, of McAllen, pleaded guilty to selling thousands of rounds of various ammunition.
OFAC designated Obed Christian Sepulveda Portillo (Obed Sepulveda), pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14059 for acting for or on behalf of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG), a violent drug trafficking organization based in Mexico responsible for a significant proportion of fentanyl and other deadly drugs trafficked into the United States.
Juan Carlos Rubio, 26, of Tucson, previously pleaded guilty to four counts of conspiracy to smuggle goods from the United States, smuggling goods from the United States, false statements in connection with acquisition of firearm, and aiding and abetting false statements in connection with acquisition of firearm.
Chad Everett Williams Jr., a 32-year-old Corpus Christi resident, pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas to possessing a loaded Diamondback Firearms pistol and 18 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Tyrell Kester, 36, of Marana, Arizona, will also be on supervised release upon conclusion of his prison sentencing. Kester previously pleaded guilty to possession of ammunition by a prohibited person.
Updated:
Subscribe to ICE News