TUCSON, AZ – A ten-man operation allegedly funneling firearms across the border into Mexico has landed the suspects in federal court, according to an indictment unsealed Friday. The group is accused of multiple firearms-related offenses, raising serious questions about the flow of weapons south of the border.
Those charged include Julian Canastillo, Daniel Canastillo Molina, Omar Trujillo, Jr., Carlos Martinez, Nicolas Meraz, Timothy Scott Waltermire, Jr., Tylor Cody Joiner, Roy Glen Cline III, Corey Creasia, and David Rey Gonzalez. The indictment, returned by a Tucson federal grand jury on September 15, 2022, details 51 firearms-related offenses allegedly committed by the group.
Federal investigators say the ten individuals were operating as a coordinated firearms trafficking organization based in Tucson. The investigation, spearheaded by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, traced a series of illegal firearms transactions that ultimately led to the seizure of weapons within the Republic of Mexico. The specifics of how the guns crossed the border are not yet detailed in public court documents.
Prosecutors Angela W. Woolridge, Matthew C. Cassell, and Craig Russell of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona are handling the case. They are quick to point out that an indictment is not a determination of guilt. Each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted on all counts, each of the ten defendants faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. The case, bearing case number CR-22-1857-TUC-JCH-BGM and release number 2022-196_Trujillo, et al., is expected to proceed through the federal court system in Tucson. The full scope of the operation and its potential connections to larger criminal networks remain under investigation.
Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and provide updates as they become available. The proliferation of illegal firearms remains a critical issue, not only in Arizona but across the nation, and the ATF’s continued efforts to disrupt trafficking rings are essential to public safety. The full indictment and related documents are available through the Department of Justice website at www.justice.gov/usao-az.
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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