Molina Lopez, Alien in Possession of a Firearm, Arizona 2025

In a shocking case, Martin Eulalio Molina Lopez, a 33-year-old former Mexican police officer, has been sentenced to 63 months in prison for his involvement in the illegal possession of firearms in Arizona.

Molina Lopez, who hails from Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced on May 19, 2025, by United States District Judge Sharad Desai. The former cop had pleaded guilty to Alien in Possession of a Firearm.

According to court documents, Molina Lopez was admitted to the United States under a travel visa in early 2024. However, things took a turn for the worse when law enforcement observed him recruiting United States citizens to serve as straw purchasers for firearms at a gun show in Phoenix, Arizona.

Further investigation revealed that Molina Lopez was in possession of 18 firearms that were purchased by others on his behalf. Moreover, it was discovered that he had previously recruited United States citizens to purchase an additional 20 firearms on his behalf, despite being prohibited from purchasing firearms in the United States while on a travel visa.

Molina Lopez’s troubles began in 2021 when he retired from the Hermosillo Municipal Police after sustaining a gunshot wound. However, it appears that his past life as a cop did not deter him from engaging in illicit activities.

The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative aimed at repelling the invasion of illegal immigration, eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protecting communities from violent crime.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation in this case, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcus Shand handled the prosecution. The case number is CR-24-00482-PHX-SHD, and the release number is 2025-081_MOLINA LOPEZ.

For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter at @USAO_AZ for the latest news.

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