Carlos Alberto Diaz-Chavez, Gun Trafficking, Tennessee 2025

Nashville Man Charged with Multiple Firearms and Drug Charges

Nashville, TN - Carlos Alberto Diaz-Chavez, 21, a citizen of Honduras without legal status in the United States, has been charged by criminal complaint with being an Alien in possession of a firearm, possession of a machinegun, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire for the Middle District of Tennessee.

Charges: Diaz-Chavez faces charges of being an Alien in possession of a firearm, possession of a machinegun, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Arrest Date: February 17, 2025, on Interstate 65 near the 67-mile marker, a Williamson County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) Deputy Sheriff observed a silver Toyota Camry that failed to move over into the next lane for a vehicle stopped on the side of Interstate 65 with its emergency lights on, in violation of Tennessee law.

Crash and Arrest: The Deputy activated the emergency lights on his patrol car to stop the Camry, at which point it came to a stop. As the Deputy approached the Camry and knocked on the passenger side window to speak with the occupants, the car accelerated at a high rate of speed and fled. WCSO Deputies deployed spike strips on Interstate 65 to disable its wheels. After the Camry’s tires were struck by the spike strips, it continued to drive towards Spring Hill, where it came to a stop by crashing into a guardrail. Three people ran from the car, including Diaz-Chavez, who got out of the back seat carrying a backpack.

Seized Items: WCSO Deputies chased and caught Diaz-Chavez, and found a purple Palmetto State Armory, Model: PA-15, Caliber: Multi firearm, a bag containing approximately 15 grams of methamphetamine, 14 additional individual plastic baggies of methamphetamine weighing approximately 0.2 grams each, and a black digital scale in his backpack. The Deputies also searched the Camry and located two more firearms – a Glock, Model: 17, Caliber: 9x19 mm, and a Ruger, Model: Single-Six, Caliber: 22.

Outcome: If convicted, Diaz-Chavez faces a maximum of 15 years in federal prison on the Alien in possession of a firearm count, 10 years on the possession of a machinegun count, 20 years on the possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine count, and a mandatory minimum of five years consecutive to all other punishment on the possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking count. He also faces up to a $1,000,000 fine on the drug trafficking count, and a $250,000 fine on each of the firearms offenses.

Investigation: This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Stephens is prosecuting the case.

Initiative: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

Disclaimer: A complaint is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdtn/pr/honduras-man-charged-multiple-firearms-and-drug-charges