Carlos Mendoza, Methamphetamine Distribution, California 2023

SAN DIEGO, CA – Carlos Mendoza, 31, of San Diego, is headed to federal prison for seven years and three months after admitting to peddling both methamphetamine and untraceable “ghost guns” on the streets. Mendoza received an 87-month sentence in federal court after pleading guilty in February of 2023 to selling drugs to undercover federal agents and illegally distributing firearms.

The feds say Mendoza wasn’t just a casual seller. He pushed eight privately made firearms – ghost guns – that lack serial numbers and are notoriously difficult to trace once they turn up at a crime scene. This makes them a favorite among criminals looking to avoid law enforcement scrutiny. Mendoza’s operation landed him in the crosshairs of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the San Diego Police Department (SDPD).

The bust was part of the “Privately Made Firearm Crime Reduction Project,” a 90-day initiative launched last year to combat the surge in ghost gun violence plaguing San Diego. ATF and SDPD crunched data, pinpointed hotspots of gun violence and illegal firearm recovery, and then focused their resources accordingly. It wasn’t just about arresting Mendoza; the project hauled in a total of 165 ghost guns and led to the prosecution of 33 individuals.

“Removing dangerous drugs and illegal guns from the street makes all of us safer,” stated U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. It’s a standard line from the prosecutor’s office, but the numbers back it up. Mendoza is one dealer off the streets, but the ATF is clear: anyone making firearms for profit needs a federal license and must comply with all applicable laws.

ATF Los Angeles Field Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Bombardiere put it bluntly: “Individuals who are engaged in the business of making firearms for livelihood or profit…must comply with federal laws that require firearms to be serialized.” The agency vows to continue targeting those who profit from illegal gun trafficking, working alongside local partners to stem the flow of untraceable weapons.

Mendoza was convicted on one count of Distributing Methamphetamine – Title 21, U.S.C., Section 841(a)(1), a charge carrying a potential life sentence and a $10 million fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shital H. Thakkar prosecuted the case, identified as Case Number 23-cr-01436-RBM. The ATF’s Los Angeles Field Division led the investigation. The feds are sending a message: ghost guns and drug trafficking won’t be tolerated in Southern California.

Related Federal Cases