Grimy Times
ALPINE, Texas — In a brazen display of gun thievery, two Pecos men have been sentenced for their roles in selling stolen firearms.
Nathaniel Elijah Saenz, 19, and Raul Ivan Duarte, 31, were part of a notorious gang that broke into vehicles and stole firearms before selling them to unsuspecting buyers. Texas authorities, in partnership with the Pecos Police Department, conducted undercover operations to track down the pair.
On March 8, 2022, DPS special agents and Pecos Police Department investigators executed search warrants and apprehended Saenz and Duarte, effectively dismantling the operation.
Saenz was sentenced to 63 months in prison for one count of sale of a stolen firearm, while Duarte received a 30-month sentence for one count of possession of a firearm not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
"This case is a clear reminder of our commitment to collaborate with our law enforcement partners at every level to stop the illicit selling of stolen firearms and to hold firearm traffickers responsible," said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas.
A third defendant, Juaquin Osbaldo Munoz, 20, was sentenced on May 22 to 57 months in prison for one count of sale of a stolen firearm. Munoz has been in federal custody since his arrest on April 10, 2022.
The Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division and Pecos Police Department investigated the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Ellis handling the prosecution.
Related Federal Cases
- Noah Robert Calderon, Possessing Unregistered Firearm and Receiving Child Pornography, Texas 2023 · Texas
- Devonte Okeith Mathis, Marijuana Trafficking and Aiding Gun Use, Texas 2021 · Texas
- Devonte Okeith Mathis, Marijuana Conspiracy, Texas 2021 · Arizona
- Dustin Ray Williams, Obstruction of Law Enforcement During Civil Disorder, Texas 2021 · District of Columbia
- Steven Cappuccio, Assaulting Officers, Texas 2021 · Texas
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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