Isaiah Dante Moreno, Possession of Unregistered Firearms, Texas 2021

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Texas Man Charged in ‘Ghost Guns’ Case

A New Mexico man who allegedly sold an undercover agent four ‘ghost guns’ and a pound of THC wax has been charged with drug and gun crimes in Texas.

Isaiah Dante Moreno, 25, and his codefendant Elias Ignacio Sisneros, 22, were indicted on September 8, 2021, for possession of unregistered firearms, possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute tetrahydrocannabinols (THC), and distribution of THC.

According to court documents, the defendants allegedly sold a DEA task force officer four fully-automatic, AR-style firearms and a pound of THC wax during an undercover buy in Lubbock, Texas. Mr. Moreno allegedly explained to the agent that he had helped manufacture the firearms, making them ‘ghost guns,’ which are unregistered firearms assembled from parts.

The undercover buy took place after Mr. Moreno allegedly informed the agent that due to some specially manufactured parts, the firearms were fully automatic, meaning they could fire more than one round of ammunition with a single depression of the trigger.

Following the undercover buy, Mr. Moreno and Mr. Sisneros, who had driven to Lubbock from New Mexico, left the scene in a black Chrysler sedan. Officers pulled them over for a traffic violation and conducted a probable-cause search of the vehicle. Inside, they found additional THC wax, two handguns, and the money received from the undercover agent. Both men were immediately arrested.

An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If convicted, they face various penalties, including up to life in federal prison.

The investigation was conducted by the DEA’s Dallas Field Division, Lubbock Resident Office, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Caprock HIDTA, Lubbock Texas Anti-Gang Taskforce (TAG), the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, Lubbock Police Department, and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Long is prosecuting the case.