LOS ANGELES, CA – Jonathan Perez, 34, of South Los Angeles, is facing a potential 25-year federal prison sentence after being convicted of running an illegal gun-selling operation that included the manufacture and distribution of “ghost guns.” A federal judge found Perez guilty yesterday following a three-day bench trial, concluding he conspired to deal firearms without a license, actually dealt firearms without a license, and possessed an unregistered firearm silencer.
The case, investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), revealed Perez and his associates peddled 22 guns and three silencers to a confidential informant over seven separate transactions. The transactions occurred in 2017, but the investigation continued for years, ultimately leading to Perez’s conviction. Evidence presented at trial included damning text messages, where Perez brazenly admitted to “selling straps to the cartel.”
Notably, Perez wasn’t just reselling firearms. He personally assembled 18 of the guns sold to the informant – these were the untraceable “ghost guns” increasingly plaguing streets across the nation. These privately made firearms lack serial numbers, making them difficult to track and often favored by criminals seeking to evade law enforcement. The conviction highlights the growing threat posed by these unregulated weapons.
This isn’t the first conviction stemming from this criminal network. Two other defendants involved in a related narcotics conspiracy previously pleaded guilty in 2018 and 2021. While details of the narcotics connection weren’t fully detailed in the release, it suggests a broader criminal enterprise at play, with firearms used to facilitate drug trafficking or other illicit activities.
U.S. Attorney Martin E. Estrada for the Central District of California is prosecuting the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Declan T. Conroy and Maria Jhai leading the charge. Perez is scheduled to be sentenced on January 25th, where he faces a statutory maximum of 25 years behind bars. The ATF’s relentless pursuit of illegal gun trafficking continues to be a crucial component of federal law enforcement efforts in Los Angeles and beyond.
The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it moves towards sentencing and will provide updates on any further developments. This conviction sends a clear message: those who illegally profit from the sale of firearms, especially dangerous and untraceable ghost guns, will be held accountable under federal law.
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