Tucson, AZ – Luis Manuel Bray-Vazquez, a 35-year-old Mexican citizen, has been sentenced to 46 months in prison for attempting to smuggle firearms from the United States into Mexico.
Bray-Vazquez, a driver for the United States Consulate in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, was arrested on November 4, 2020, after he attempted to enter Mexico through the Nogales Port of Entry while driving a U.S. Consular vehicle. Customs and Border Protection officers tried to conduct an outbound border search of the vehicle, but Bray-Vazquez fled from the officers at a high rate of speed.
Officers reacted quickly and were able to close the exit gate to prevent Bray-Vazquez from entering Mexico. They searched the Consular vehicle that Bray-Vazquez was driving and found a total of ten rifles and five pistols, including a Barrett .50 caliber rifle and several AK-47 and AR variant rifles and pistols.
Bray-Vazquez admitted he was being paid to smuggle the firearms into Mexico and that he had successfully done so on previous occasions.
“The trafficking of weapons from the United States into Mexico – especially of the type and quantity smuggled by Bray-Vazquez – has devastating repercussions in both countries,” said Acting United States Attorney Glenn B. McCormick.
“Bray-Vazquez’s prosecution and the length of sentence imposed should serve as a warning that weapons smugglers, including anyone attempting to hide behind the veil of an official position, will pay a heavy price for their crimes.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela W. Woolridge handled the prosecution, and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection. The case number is 21-0655-TUC-JGZ.
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- Tucson Gun Dealer Brian Hernandez Busted for Illegal Firearm Sales · Nevada
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Key Facts
- State: Arizona
- Category: Weapons
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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