Smuggling Guns into Honduras: Two Honduran nationals, Miguel Humberto Pinto Serrano and Walter Antonio Coto Alvarenga, have pleaded guilty to charges of smuggling ammunition and firearms to their home country. Pinto Serrano, 29, entered the U.S. illegally in 2013 and later purchased thousands of rounds of ammunition, which he shipped to Honduras with the help of Coto Alvarenga, who reentered the U.S. illegally.
The duo was caught in Sterling, Virginia, where they were found with over a thousand rounds of ammunition, firearm parts, and two rifles. Pinto Serrano also used eBay to acquire pistol magazines, grips, barrels, and night sights.
Pinto Serrano faces up to 15 years for smuggling goods and transporting a firearm as an illegal alien, while Coto Alvarenga’s sentence could also reach 15 years for his role in the firearms transport. Both men are scheduled to be sentenced on September 24.
Prosecutors noted that this case is part of Operation Take Back America, which aims to combat illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations. U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert and ICE HSI’s Christopher Heck led the announcement after Senior Judge Anthony J. Trenga accepted their guilty pleas.
The investigation was conducted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather D. Call, with former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Binder assisting in the prosecution. Further details on the case can be found on the websites of the Eastern District of Virginia’s U.S. Attorney’s Office and District Court.
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Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Public Corruption|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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