ALEXANDRIA, Va. – In a stunning turn of events, Honduran nationals Miguel Humberto Pinto Serrano, 29, and Walter Antonio Coto Alvarenga have been arraigned for their roles in a brazen scheme to smuggle firearms and ammunition to Honduras. According to court documents, Pinto Serrano unlawfully entered the United States in July 2013 and has since been a target of immigration enforcement.
Pinto Serrano’s illegal activities reached a crescendo when he was caught shipping 3,000 rounds of ammunition to Honduras under false pretenses. His accomplice, Coto Alvarenga, who had previously been removed from the United States only to reenter illegally, played a pivotal role in the plot.
Together, they operated from a shared residence in Sterling, Virginia, where Pinto Serrano amassed firearm parts and ammunition. On April 21, 2025, law enforcement conducted a search of their home, uncovering over a thousand rounds of ammunition, firearm components, and additional magazines. The duo’s scheme was not only audacious but also dangerous, as they intended to ship rifles to Honduras.
Pinto Serrano pleaded guilty to smuggling goods from the United States and possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. Coto Alvarenga, who had previously entered the country illegally, admitted to transporting firearms across state lines while in the country unlawfully. Both face up to 15 years in prison as they await sentencing on September 24.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Christopher Heck, Acting Special Agent in Charge of ICE HSI Washington, D.C., emphasized the significance of this case, highlighting its role in Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative targeting illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations.
For further information on this case, please visit the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia’s website or search PACER for Case Nos. 1:25-cr-175 (Pinto Serrano) and 1:25-cr-176 (Coto Alvarenga).
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Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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