Joel Bustamante Moreno, Unlawful Possession of a Machinegun, Texas 2025
Bustling streets of Nacogdoches, Texas, witnessed a sinister plot unfold, as a Mexican national illegally residing in the city, Joel Bustamante Moreno, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm equipped with a machinegun conversion device.
On September 10, 2025, U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone handed down the sentence to the 26-year-old defendant, who had previously pleaded guilty to unlawful possession or transfer of a machinegun in the Eastern District of Texas.
According to the evidence presented in court, in December 2023, Moreno was identified during an investigation involving the distribution of machinegun conversion devices (MCDs) in the Nacogdoches area. MCDs are small mechanisms that can be attached to the rear of the slide of a firearm, converting a semi-automatic weapon into a fully automatic machinegun.
On February 1, 2024, Moreno sold a pistol and an AR-style rifle that had been converted into fully automatic weapons. In addition to the firearms, Moreno sold two 100-round drum magazines and one 30-round magazine for the AR-style rifle, as well as three pistol magazines and live ammunition.
After the transaction, law enforcement attempted to arrest Moreno, but he fled the scene at a high rate of speed, eventually overturning his vehicle and continuing to evade on foot. Moreno was eventually located hiding inside a residence. SWAT members were dispatched, and Moreno was taken into custody.
Further investigation revealed that Moreno was a Mexican national and did not have permission to be in the United States. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of law enforcement to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The case was investigated by the Nacogdoches Police Department; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald S. Carter prosecuted the case.
Defendant:
Joel Bustamante Moreno
Criminal Charges:
Unlawful possession or transfer of a machinegun
City and State:
Nacogdoches, Texas
Exact Date:
September 10, 2025 (sentencing)
Sentence or Outcome:
10 years in federal prison
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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