Elieser Sori-Rodriguez, Conspiracy to Purchase Firearms by Means of False Statement, Florida 2023

MIAMI, FL – Elieser Sori-Rodriguez, 51, of Pompano Beach, is headed to federal prison for nearly five years after being sentenced to 57 months on Monday, February 26th. U.S. District Judge Robin L. Rosenberg handed down the sentence for his role in a scheme to illegally smuggle firearms from South Florida to the Dominican Republic. The case, investigated by the ATF and Homeland Security Investigations, reveals a brazen attempt to bypass U.S. gun laws and arm individuals overseas.

According to court documents, Sori-Rodriguez didn’t handle the guns himself. Instead, he orchestrated a conspiracy, recruiting co-defendants to purchase firearms using false statements. These weapons were then hidden inside boxes disguised as ordinary household goods – a pathetic attempt to fool freight shipping services. The operation funneled the illicit cargo directly to the Dominican Republic, raising serious questions about the ultimate destination and use of these firearms.

Sori-Rodriguez pled guilty in November 2023 to a slew of charges: conspiracy to purchase firearms by means of false statement, three counts of purchase of firearms by means of false statement, smuggling firearms from the U.S., and failing to notify a common carrier about the shipment of firearms. His accomplices, John Thomas Neal, Shane Sepersaude, and William Ilijic, have already faced justice, pleading guilty to providing false statements in firearm purchases and receiving their own sentences.

“This case underscores the relentless efforts of the ATF and HSI to disrupt the flow of illegal weapons across our borders,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher A. Robinson of the ATF’s Miami Field Office. “Those who attempt to profit from such dangerous activities will be held accountable.” U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe of the Southern District of Florida echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the commitment to combating firearms trafficking and protecting communities both at home and abroad.

The prosecution is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program touted as an evidence-based strategy to reduce violent crime. While the DOJ boasts about PSN’s effectiveness, the streets tell a different story. Critics argue that these programs often focus on low-level offenders while failing to address the systemic issues driving gun violence. Regardless, federal prosecutors are pushing the narrative that this conviction is a win for public safety.

Court documents related to the case, bearing case number 23-cr-14016, are publicly available through the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida’s website at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov. While Sori-Rodriguez’s sentence offers a temporary reprieve, the demand for illegally trafficked firearms remains a persistent and dangerous reality.

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