Illegal Alien Moncada-Vargas Sentenced for Gun Smuggling

NEW ORLEANS – Junior Alexander Moncada-Vargas, the 35-year-old Honduran national dubbed a ‘gun runner’ by law enforcement, has been sentenced to thirty months in federal prison for his brazen illegal arms trade. Moncada-Vargas was caught selling multiple firearms and ammunition to undercover agents over several months.

The court records reveal that on three separate occasions between July 2023 and September 2023, Moncada-Vargas sold a Glock Model 22 Gen 5 handgun, a Kalashnikov semi-automatic rifle, and a Norinco SKS rifle, each equipped with ammunition. His illegal activities were part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing gun violence across the United States.

On September 18, 2023, Moncada-Vargas was arrested and confessed to being an illegal alien in the U.S. He now faces deportation proceedings upon his release from prison, where he will also be required to pay a $100 special assessment fee and serve three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans commended the efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the New Orleans Police Department in bringing Moncada-Vargas to justice. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy L. Bell led the prosecution against the defendant.

Moncada-Vargas’ sentence is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by illegal firearms and aliens involved in criminal activities, highlighting the importance of PSN’s mission to foster trust and legitimacy within communities while supporting local organizations that work to prevent violence before it occurs.