Reyes Hernandez, a 34-year-old Houston man, has admitted to trafficking in firearms by selling a .45 caliber pistol to a convicted felon—a direct violation of federal law. His guilty plea, entered Tuesday, marks the culmination of an ATF investigation into illegal gun transfers within the city’s underground networks.
The transaction occurred on June 7, 2017, when Hernandez sold a Sig Sauer, model 1911, to an individual he knew had been convicted of a felony punishable by more than one year in prison. That man had explicitly told Hernandez of his status, acknowledging he was barred from purchasing guns through legal channels.
Despite that knowledge, Hernandez moved forward with the sale, effectively arming someone prohibited by law from possessing any firearm. Such actions carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison, the sentence now looming over him as U.S. District Judge Gray Miller schedules his May 18, 2018, sentencing hearing.
“Selling a gun to a convicted felon is a crime that ATF takes very seriously,” said Special Agent in Charge Fred Milanowski. “We will continue to pursue individuals who break the law and put more guns into the hands of illegal possessors.”
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, underscoring federal efforts to disrupt the flow of weapons into criminal hands through private sales and back-alley deals. No money amount was disclosed in court documents.
Hernandez remains free on bond as he awaits sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Celia Moyer is prosecuting the case, which highlights the government’s focus on holding accountable those who enable armed crime by bypassing federal firearm regulations.
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