A licensed firearms dealer in Texas has been taken into custody for allegedly selling a firearm to a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Ricardo Estevis Jr., 31, of Laredo, is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Diana Song Quiroga on April 11 at 9:30 a.m.
According to the criminal complaint unsealed upon his arrest, Estevis had applied for a federal position and as part of the employment process, the investigation allegedly revealed he had sold a Sig P365 handgun to someone he knew to be a felon.
The charges also indicate Estevis further attempted to circumvent the appropriate procedures by conducting the purchase as a private sale.
The complaint alleges the buyer had five felony convictions and has been prohibited per federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition since 2004.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, Laredo Police Department, and other federal, state, and local agencies.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Homero Ramirez is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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