SACRAMENTO, CA – Andrew Jace Larrabure-Tuma, 20, of Sacramento, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to three years and four months for unlawfully dealing and manufacturing firearms. The case, a stark example of how social media fuels the illegal gun trade, was announced today by U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert.
Court documents reveal Larrabure-Tuma wasn’t just a reseller – he was a ghost gun manufacturer. Unable to legally purchase firearms in California at the age of 19, he turned to the internet, ordering “kits” from companies like Polymer 80, a Nevada-based firearms manufacturer. He then assembled these kits into functioning firearms, turning a profit by selling them through the ephemeral world of Snapchat. Undercover law enforcement officers and a confidential informant were able to purchase guns directly from Larrabure-Tuma, exposing the operation.
The ATF, along with the Sacramento Police Department and the Western El Dorado Narcotics Enforcement Team, spearheaded the investigation. They traced the flow of illegal weapons back to Larrabure-Tuma’s operation, revealing a brazen disregard for federal and state gun laws. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Lee is prosecuting the case, aiming to send a message that exploiting loopholes to arm criminals will not be tolerated.
Larrabure-Tuma isn’t the only one facing consequences. His co-defendant, Juan Manriquez, has already pleaded guilty to unlawful dealing in firearms and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 16, 2023. The investigation suggests a network, and authorities are likely to continue pursuing anyone else involved in the scheme.
This case falls under the umbrella of the Sacramento Region/San Francisco Bay Area Cross-Jurisdictional Firearms Trafficking Strike Force, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in July 2021. The Strike Force aims to disrupt illegal gun trafficking routes and combat violent crime by pooling resources and intelligence across multiple jurisdictions. It’s a clear sign that federal agencies are stepping up efforts to stem the tide of illegal weapons flowing into cities.
The prosecution of Larrabure-Tuma is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program focused on building trust between law enforcement and communities while strategically targeting violent crime. The Department of Justice is doubling down on these initiatives, hoping to create safer neighborhoods and reduce gun violence nationwide. This sentencing serves as a warning: those who profit from illegal firearms will face the full weight of the law.
Related Federal Cases
- Kenneth William Kirkland, Homemade Bomb Manufacturing, CA 2015 · Illinois
- Felony Firearm Possession Nets 39-Year-Old Camarillo Man 10-Year Sentence · Illinois
- Man Arrested for Illegally Transporting Fireworks · California
- Julian Canastillo, Firearms Trafficking, Arizona 2025 · Nevada
- Brian Scheckla, Firearms Trafficking, California 2023 · Nevada
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