Trafficker Hiraldo Abreu Sentenced to 12 Years for Gun Ring

A federal judge has sentenced Jonathan Hiraldo Abreu, 33, of Pennsylvania, to 12 years in prison for his role in a massive gun trafficking ring that smuggled dozens of firearms to the Dominican Republic.

According to court documents, Abreu, along with Cornel Rashard Miley, 34, of Georgia, and his wife Charqweshia Sierra Miley, 32, of Georgia, conspired to buy guns in the metro Atlanta area that were later smuggled to the Dominican Republic. The group used everyday household items to disguise the firearms, which were then shipped to the Dominican Republic in containers filled with other goods.

U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said that firearm traffickers pose a significant threat to communities both within and outside the district. “We are committed to working with our federal, state, local, and international partners to disrupt the illegal flow of firearms by identifying and prosecuting those who illegally purchase and traffic these weapons,” Buchanan said.

Assistant Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones noted that the ATF’s top priority is to aggressively investigate and bring to justice those who traffic firearms. “This is an excellent example of such an investigation that was worked cooperatively by multiple partner agencies with outstanding results,” Jones said.

Abreu’s sentence was part of a plea deal that required him to plead guilty to conspiracy to traffic firearms. In exchange for his cooperation, his co-defendants Miley and Miley were each sentenced to 10 years in prison. Jose Munoz, 31, of Rhode Island, who managed the gun purchases in Abreu’s place, was sentenced to 5 years in prison.

The case was a result of a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. “These sentences were made possible through close coordination between our federal, local, and international law enforcement partners,” said Special Agent Edwin Lopez.