Oscar Gumaro Pruneda-Garcia, Firearms Charge, Texas 2017

McALLEN, Texas – Oscar Gumaro Pruneda-Garcia, 30, and Rene Garcia-Araujo, 25, two men who had been admitted into the country from Mexico under a non-immigrant visa, have been ordered to prison for illegally possessing firearms.

On January 3, 2017, Pruneda-Garcia and Garcia-Araujo pleaded guilty to the charge. U.S. District Judge Ricardo H. Hinojosa took into consideration the fact that both men collectively possessed 12 firearms and ordered Pruneda to serve 21 months and Garcia to serve 15 months in prison.

In handing down the sentence, Judge Hinojosa noted the seriousness of the offense given the gun violence in Mexico. Both men are also expected to face revocation of their visas and deportation proceedings following their release from prison.

According to the investigation, authorities conducted surveillance at a gun show in McAllen on October 15, 2016, and observed multiple suspicious purchases of semi-automatic firearms. Law enforcement followed and subsequently stopped Pruneda and Garcia after they departed from the gun show, at which time they were taken into custody.

The investigation also led agents to a residence in Weslaco. Searches of the vehicle Pruneda was driving and the Weslaco residence resulted in the seizure of 12 firearms and approximately 67 firearm magazines.

After his arrest, Pruneda said he was being paid to purchase firearms and smuggle them to Mexico. For his part, Garcia admitted that after Pruneda purchased the firearms, he took some of them and placed them in the vehicle.

Foreign nationals who are admitted into the United States under a non-immigrant visa are prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition, unless they have been admitted to the United States for lawful hunting or sporting purposes or they are in possession of a hunting license or permit lawfully issued in the United States.