EL PASO, TX – Carmen Gallegos, also known as Carmen Salazar-Andujo, of Hobbs, New Mexico, is facing over four years behind bars after admitting to a brazen scheme to funnel firearms across the border into Mexico. Gallegos, 50 months sentenced, was convicted of conspiracy to smuggle goods from the United States, a charge stemming from a two-month buying spree of weaponry.
Court records detail how Gallegos, between September 2, 2021, and October 29, 2021, purchased at least 23 firearms in West Texas and Southern New Mexico. The operation involved a calculated deception: Gallegos listed a Texas address on at least three separate Firearm Transaction Records, despite being a resident of New Mexico, to bypass restrictions and acquire the weapons. Investigators believe these guns were destined for the hands of Mexican criminal organizations.
The scheme unraveled on October 31, 2021, when Gallegos was arrested at the Ysleta Port of Entry while returning from Mexico. Authorities quickly connected her to the gun purchases and uncovered evidence of her intent to smuggle. During her arrest, Gallegos confessed to being paid $538 for smuggling three firearms into Mexico just one day prior – a paltry sum for fueling cross-border crime.
“Falsifying federal documents to purchase firearms is a serious offense,” stated U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff. While Hoff’s statement sounds bureaucratic, the reality is Gallegos wasn’t just filling out forms; she was actively arming potentially dangerous actors south of the border. The successful prosecution, a joint effort between multiple agencies, sends a clear message that such actions will not be tolerated.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) led the investigation. HSI El Paso Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola emphasized the agency’s commitment to preventing firearms from reaching transnational criminal organizations. Acting Special Agent in Charge Jamey VanVliet of the ATF Dallas Field Division echoed this sentiment, highlighting the collaborative effort to disrupt the flow of illegal weapons.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory McDonald, Ellen Denum, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristal Wade secured the conviction and sentence. Gallegos’s case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against firearms trafficking and the dedication of federal agencies to safeguarding the border. The question remains: how many other ‘short-lived smugglers’ are still operating in the shadows?
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