Luis Salvador Flores, Possession of Firearms by a Convicted Felon, Arizona 2022

TUCSON, AZ – Luis Salvador Flores, 50, of Glendale, Arizona, is headed to federal prison for seven years after being sentenced on October 31, 2022, for Possession of Firearms by a Convicted Felon. U.S. District Judge John C. Hinderaker handed down the 84-month sentence, followed by three years of supervised release. Flores’s arrest stemmed from a routine traffic stop that unraveled a far more sinister plan.

On November 17, 2020, Pima County Sheriff’s deputies pulled Flores over for a traffic violation while he was en route to oversee a massive methamphetamine sale in Tucson. A search of his vehicle revealed a pair of semi-automatic firearms: a loaded Glock 9mm pistol and an ATI Omni Hybrid 5.56/.223 caliber rifle, along with multiple magazines and ammunition. Flores readily admitted his intention was to provide “security” for the deal, which authorities estimate involved roughly 200 pounds of meth. The transaction was thankfully cut short by the timely intervention of law enforcement.

But the guns weren’t the biggest issue. Flores wasn’t just some first-time offender. Court records show the 50-year-old boasted over 20 prior felony convictions – a staggering history that explicitly prohibited him from legally possessing any firearms or ammunition. He’d repeatedly ignored the law, and this time, it landed him a substantial federal sentence.

The investigation, led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in Tucson, with crucial support from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, painted a clear picture of Flores’s involvement in the criminal underworld. While the intended methamphetamine deal never materialized, the presence of the firearms confirmed the potential for violence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael R. Lizano, District of Arizona, Tucson, successfully prosecuted the case.

“This case underscores the dangers posed by convicted felons illegally possessing firearms,” a source close to the investigation told Grimy Times. “Flores’s extensive criminal history and his willingness to arm himself while facilitating a large drug deal demonstrate a blatant disregard for public safety. The seven-year sentence sends a clear message: we will aggressively pursue those who put our communities at risk.”

Flores will serve his sentence in a federal correctional facility. Case Number: CR-22-00896-JCH-DTF. Release Number: 2022-205_Flores. The ATF and its partners continue to work tirelessly to stem the flow of illegal firearms and dismantle criminal networks throughout Arizona and beyond.

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