Tampa Crime: International Firearms Trafficking Ring Leader Pleads Guilty
According to U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg, Ricardo Fermin Sune-Giron, a 34-year-old Guatemalan fugitive living in the U.S. under a fake identity, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy, firearms trafficking, dealing in firearms without a license, and possessing firearms as an illegal alien.
Sune-Giron faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison for the conspiracy and each possession offense. He also faces up to 5 years’ imprisonment for dealing in firearms without a license. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
Between 2023 and April 2024, Sune-Giron was a member of a transnational firearms trafficking operation. He recruited straw purchasers to buy firearms, including Glocks, rifles, and AK-47s, from federal firearms licensees across Florida. After purchasing the firearms, Sune-Giron and his co-conspirators smuggled them overseas, including to the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
On April 18, 2024, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations in Tampa and Orlando executed three coordinated search warrants at residences in the Orlando area. At Sune-Giron’s residence, agents recovered more than 50 firearms, ammunition, money counters, and approximately $16,000 in U.S. currency.
At the time of the search, Sune-Giron had been living in the United States illegally under an assumed name. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.
This case is a stark reminder of the dangers of international firearms trafficking and the importance of effective law enforcement efforts to combat it. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work tirelessly to bring those responsible for these crimes to justice.
Sune-Giron’s case is a result of a collaborative effort between law enforcement agencies and demonstrates the importance of international cooperation in combating transnational crime.
Defendant: Ricardo Fermin Sune-Giron
Criminal Charges: Conspiracy, Firearms Trafficking, Dealing in Firearms without a License, Possessing Firearms as an Illegal Alien
City and State: Tampa, Florida
Exact Date: Between 2023 and April 2024 (crime date)
Sentence or Outcome: Guilty Plea, pending sentencing
Dollar Amounts: Approximately $16,000 in U.S. currency recovered during search warrant execution
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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