Osiel Cardenas Jr., Smuggling Assault Rifles, Texas 2021

A former cartel leader’s son has admitted to smuggling assault rifles into Mexico, marked another dark chapter in the violent history of the Gulf Cartel.

Osiel Cardenas Jr., 30, of Brownsville, Texas, pleaded guilty to smuggling goods from the United States into Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Cardenas, also known as Osiel Cardenas-Salinas Jr., attempted to purchase 10 assault rifles to export into Mexico on April 22, 2021. The undercover operation took place in a Brownsville store parking lot where Cardenas and others attempted to buy five AK-47 type rifles and five AR-15 type rifles.

As part of the operation, Cardenas instructed another individual to cross into Mexico to pick up the $15,000 for the weapons and to inform him when the weapons transaction had been completed.

Cardenas committed the crime while on supervised release for a previous felony, a fact that puts him on the radar of law enforcement officials who are eager to crack down on organized crime.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elena Salinas is prosecuting the case.

U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. will impose sentencing on November 8. At that time, Cardenas faces up to 10 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing.

Cardenas’ father, Osiel Cardenas-Guillen, was convicted of crimes related to his leadership of the Gulf Cartel and sentenced to 25 years in federal prison and ordered to pay a money judgment of $50 million.

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