Brothers Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Traffic Firearms Bound for Mexico
Homero Cervantes Rosales and Mauricio Cervantes Rosales, two brothers from Perris, California, pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in federal court recently. They admitted to trafficking firearms that they believed were destined for Mexico and engaging in firearm sales without a license. The brothers confessed that they exchanged marijuana for firearms with co-conspirators in Texas, which they then sold to individuals they believed were involved in drug trafficking. Over a span of three months, they sold over 30 firearms, including ghost guns, short-barrel rifles, silencers, and machine guns, for an estimated value of $60,000 to undercover agents posing as international drug traffickers. This case highlights the significant impact of gun trafficking into Mexico, which enables criminal organizations to fuel drug-related violence on both sides of the border.
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Title
Brothers Admit to Conspiracy to Traffic Firearms They Believed Were Bound for Mexico
Background
Summary of the case
Homero Cervantes Rosales and Mauricio Cervantes Rosales, both brothers from Perris, California, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiring to traffic firearms they believed were bound for Mexico and dealing firearms without a license. The defendants admitted to exchanging marijuana with co-conspirators in Texas for firearms, which they sold to individuals they believed were drug traffickers. They also obtained firearms from other sources for their conspiracy.
Defendants’ guilty pleas
Homero and Mauricio Cervantes Rosales entered their guilty pleas before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen S. Crawford. They confessed to selling more than 30 firearms, including privately made firearms, short-barrel rifles, silencers, and machine guns, for an estimated value of $60,000. These sales took place from February through April of this year. The firearms were sold to a cooperating individual and undercover agents who were posing as international drug traffickers.
Details of the Conspiracy
Exchanging marijuana for firearms
Homero and Mauricio Cervantes Rosales admitted to exchanging marijuana with co-conspirators in Texas in exchange for firearms. This illegal trade allowed them to acquire firearms for their trafficking operation.
Selling firearms to drug traffickers
The defendants sold the firearms they obtained to individuals they believed were drug traffickers. By providing these individuals with firearms, they were complicit in enabling their illegal activities.
Obtaining firearms from other sources
In addition to exchanging marijuana for firearms, the defendants also utilized other sources to obtain firearms for their conspiracy. The details of these other sources were not specified in the available information.
Types of Firearms Involved
Privately made firearms
Among the firearms sold by Homero and Mauricio Cervantes Rosales were privately made firearms, also known as ghost guns. These firearms are typically untraceable since they lack a serial number, making them attractive to individuals involved in illegal activities.
Short-barrel rifles
The defendants also sold short-barrel rifles as part of their illegal firearms trafficking operation. Short-barrel rifles are regulated under the National Firearms Act due to their potential to be easily concealed and used for criminal purposes.
Silencers
Silencers, also referred to as suppressors, were among the firearms sold by the defendants. Silencers help muffle the sound of gunfire and are often sought after by individuals looking to engage in illegal activities quietly.
Machine guns
Additionally, Homero and Mauricio Cervantes Rosales were involved in the sale of machine guns. Machine guns are fully automatic firearms and are heavily regulated under federal law due to their potential for mass casualties in a short amount of time.
Value of Firearms Sold
Sales from February to April of this year
From February through April of this year, Homero and Mauricio Cervantes Rosales sold over 30 firearms, including privately made firearms, short-barrel rifles, silencers, and machine guns. These sales were part of their conspiracy to traffic firearms they believed were bound for Mexico.
Estimated value of $60,000
The firearms sold by the defendants had an estimated value of $60,000. This highlights the lucrative nature of their illegal firearms trafficking operation.
Cooperating Individuals and Undercover Agents
Involvement of a cooperating individual
Homero and Mauricio Cervantes Rosales sold the firearms to a cooperating individual who worked with law enforcement. This individual likely played a crucial role in gathering evidence against the defendants and their co-conspirators.
Undercover agents posing as international drug traffickers
The undercover agents involved in this case posed as international drug traffickers. Their role was to infiltrate the illegal firearms trafficking operation and gather evidence against the defendants and their co-conspirators.
Highlighting the Dangers
Guns trafficking into Mexico
Trafficking guns into Mexico poses significant dangers as criminal organizations in Mexico often use these firearms to fuel violence and drug trafficking. The flow of firearms from the United States to Mexico contributes to the ongoing drug-related violence in Mexico.
Impact on both sides of the border
The illegal firearms trafficking operation conducted by Homero and Mauricio Cervantes Rosales had the potential to impact both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. The sale of firearms to individuals involved in drug trafficking not only helps perpetuate violence in Mexico but also poses risks to the safety and security of communities on the U.S. side of the border.
ATF’s intervention and seizure of arsenal
Fortunately, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) intervened in this case and was able to seize an arsenal of firearms. Without their intervention, these firearms would have continued to pose a threat to both sides of the border and put lives at risk.
Criminal Firearms Trafficking Offense
Use of new offense – 18 U.S.C. § 933
This case is a prime example of the use of a new criminal firearms trafficking offense, 18 U.S.C. § 933. The application of this offense highlights the government’s commitment to combating illegal firearms trafficking and holding those involved in such activities accountable.
Making firearms trafficking socially reprehensible
The goal of enforcing criminal firearms trafficking offenses like 18 U.S.C. § 933 is to make firearms trafficking socially reprehensible. By imposing severe penalties and prioritizing the prosecution of individuals involved in such activities, society aims to deter others from engaging in illegal firearms trafficking.
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Prosecution and Charges
Prosecution by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Brehm
The prosecution of this case is being led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Brehm. His expertise in prosecuting federal firearm offenses ensures that the defendants face appropriate consequences for their involvement in the illegal firearms trafficking operation.
Summary of charges
Homero and Mauricio Cervantes Rosales are charged with conspiracy to traffic firearms under Title 18, U.S.C., Section 933(a). They are also charged with dealing firearms without a license under Title 18, U.S.C., Section 922(a)(1)(A).
Maximum penalties
If found guilty, the defendants could face a maximum penalty of fifteen years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy to traffic firearms charge. For dealing firearms without a license, they could face a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
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