Luis Eduardo Terminel Jr., Conspiracy to Smuggle Goods from the United States, Arizona 2023

TUCSON, AZ – Luis Eduardo Terminel Jr., 27, of Tucson, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 33 months for his role in a cross-border gun smuggling operation. U.S. District Judge James A. Soto handed down the sentence on June 14, 2023, along with a $5,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Terminel pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Smuggle Goods from the United States.

The scheme, active from November 2019 to June 27, 2020, involved Terminel and his associates purchasing firearms and high-capacity magazines in Arizona and elsewhere with the explicit intent of illegally transporting them south of the border. The operation wasn’t about legitimate sales; it involved deliberate deception. The group allegedly made false statements to firearms dealers to facilitate the purchases and even provided funding to others to acquire more weapons.

Federal prosecutors detailed how the smuggled firearms and magazines were prohibited from export to Mexico without the proper licensing. Terminel and his co-conspirators operated entirely outside the law, lacking any valid permits or legal authority to ship the weapons across international lines. This wasn’t a mistake; it was a calculated effort to bypass U.S. export controls and flood the Mexican market with illegally obtained firearms.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) spearheaded the investigation, untangling the network of purchases and planned transport routes. The ATF’s Phoenix Field Division worked tirelessly to build a case against Terminel and his accomplices, uncovering the full scope of the smuggling conspiracy. The investigation likely involved surveillance, undercover operations, and meticulous tracking of firearm purchases.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Bolling and Sandra Hansen, both of the District of Arizona in Tucson, prosecuted the case. Their work secured the conviction and subsequent sentencing of Terminel, sending a message that illegal arms trafficking will not be tolerated. Case number CR-21-00880-JAS-LCK. Release number 2023-095_Terminel, Jr.

While Terminel is now facing the consequences of his actions, the investigation into his co-conspirators remains ongoing. Federal authorities are continuing to dismantle the network responsible for this operation, aiming to stem the flow of illegal weapons into Mexico and disrupt the criminal activity fueled by these firearms. The case serves as a stark reminder of the constant battle against arms trafficking and the dedication of law enforcement to securing the border.

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