SAN DIEGO, CA – Carlos Mendoza, 31, of San Diego, is headed to federal prison for 87 months after admitting to peddling methamphetamine and illegally trafficking in “ghost guns,” those untraceable, privately-made firearms flooding the streets. The sentence, handed down in federal court today, marks a win for a task force battling escalating gun violence in the region.
Mendoza pleaded guilty in February of 2023 to selling methamphetamine to undercover federal agents. But the drug deal wasn’t his only crime. He also confessed to hawking eight privately-made firearms – ghost guns – bypassing all legal requirements for serial numbers and background checks. These weapons, assembled from parts, are a nightmare for law enforcement, vanishing into the criminal underworld with no clear paper trail.
The takedown of Mendoza was part of the Privately Made Firearm Crime Reduction Project, a 90-day blitzkrieg launched from February to May of 2023. Facing a surge in gun violence and a rising tide of ghost guns, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) deployed data analytics to pinpoint hotspots. The operation wasn’t random; it was a calculated intelligence-led effort to maximize impact.
The results speak for themselves. The project seized a staggering 165 ghost guns and led to the prosecution of 33 individuals, including Mendoza. “Removing dangerous drugs and illegal guns from the street makes all of us safer,” stated U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. It’s a blunt assessment, but one that reflects the grim reality of the fight against criminal activity.
ATF officials emphasized the importance of regulating the proliferation of these unregulated firearms. “Individuals who are engaged in the business of making firearms for livelihood or profit as opposed to personal use, must obtain a federal firearms license, and must comply with federal laws that require firearms to be serialized,” said ATF Los Angeles Field Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Bombardiere. “ATF will continue to investigate criminal possession of ghost guns and those who traffick them with its local partners to make our communities safer.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shital H. Thakkar prosecuted the case. Mendoza was sentenced on charges of Distributing Methamphetamine – Title 21, U.S.C., Section 841(a)(1), a crime carrying a potential life sentence and a $10 million fine. While he didn’t receive the maximum, 87 months is a substantial blow to his operation and a warning to others looking to profit from the misery of others. Case Number: 23-cr-01436-RBM.
Related Federal Cases
- Heroin & Meth Kingpin Hidalgo-Mendoza Gets 15 Years · Washington
- San Jose’s Omar Gonzalez Given 14-Year Sentence for Meth Trafficking · California
- Williams Gets 6 Years on Felony Gun Charge · Louisiana
- Villarreal’s $5M Drug Ring Busted in San Diego · California
- Ravenna Meth & Gun Duo Face Federal Charges · Illinois
Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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