RAYTOWN, MO – Frank Guereca, 22, of Olathe, Kansas, is facing federal charges after a brazen theft of 41 firearms from a Raytown, Missouri gun store last June. Guereca was apprehended yesterday attempting to re-enter the United States from Mexico, bringing a months-long investigation to a head. The stolen weapons weren’t destined for local crime; authorities say they were smuggled south of the border.
According to a federal indictment unsealed today, Guereca, aided by at least two accomplices, used a stolen U-Haul to pilfer the firearms on June 16, 2023. The haul consisted entirely of pistols, varying in manufacturer and caliber. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) quickly traced one of the stolen weapons to Tracy, California in November. A second surfaced in Chihuahua, Mexico in December, and a third in Juarez, Mexico in February. The international trail was a key factor in focusing the investigation on Guereca.
“Today’s charges demonstrate the power of crime gun intelligence and cooperation with Mexican law enforcement to stem the flow of firearms from the United States into Mexico — where they arm the violent cartels that flood our communities with deadly drugs,” stated Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. The ATF’s eTrace system, which tracks firearms from the point of sale, proved critical in linking the Missouri theft to the recovered weapons in Mexico. Director Steven Dettelbach of the ATF emphasized that “unlawful firearms trafficking is not a victimless crime,” and that these guns frequently end up fueling violence in Mexico.
U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore for the Western District of Missouri made it clear that authorities are committed to disrupting the flow of illegal firearms, both domestically and internationally. “Stolen firearms often supply black market dealers and fuel more crime and violence,” Moore said. “It’s critical that we hold to account everyone involved along this chain of criminal activity.” Records from U.S. Customs and Border Protection reveal Guereca had crossed the border roughly 20 times since the initial burglary.
Guereca made his initial court appearance today in El Paso, Texas, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Miguel Torres of the Western District of Texas. He is charged with one count of stealing firearms from a federal firearms licensee. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley K. Kavanaugh is prosecuting the case. The investigation was a joint effort between the ATF and the Raytown Police Department.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement and communities. While details of potential accomplices haven’t been released, investigators are likely pursuing all leads to dismantle the entire operation and prevent future firearms thefts. The recovery of only three firearms so far suggests dozens more stolen pistols remain unaccounted for, potentially circulating in the illicit arms market.
Related Federal Cases
- Frank McChriston, Interstate Gun Theft, Texas 2024 · Missouri
- Olathe Man, 22, Stole 41 Guns for Mexican Cartels · Missouri
- Tracy L. Kellerstrass, Bank Fraud, Missouri 2024 · California
- Johnny Jordan Thompson, Methamphetamine Possession, Missouri 2023 · Missouri
- Miguel Pulido-Maldonado, $10 Million Marijuana Grow Operation, Missouri 2018 · Missouri
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