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Tampa Man Sentenced for Gun Smuggling Role

A Tampa man has been sentenced to prison for his role in a gun smuggling ring that shipped assault rifles and pistols to Colombia.

Sergio David Hernandez-Zuluaga, 41, was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for providing a firearm to a prohibited person, a crime that carries harsh penalties in the United States.

According to court documents, Hernandez-Zuluaga purchased and stored at least seven firearms in the Tampa area before they were shipped to Colombia in December 2017 and February 2018.

The firearms were concealed in packages containing household items and were seized by authorities in Bogota, Colombia.

Hernandez-Zuluaga transferred the firearms to his friend, Jhon Marin-Moreno, a dual citizen of the United States and Colombia, who arranged for their illegal export.

At the time, Hernandez-Zuluaga knew that Marin-Moreno was a convicted felon who could not possess firearms.

Marin-Moreno was charged separately and sentenced to three years and three months in federal prison.

“This criminal thought he could circumvent our nation’s firearms laws with his participation in this international weapons smuggling operation,” said HSI Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael Cochran.

“But thanks to the law enforcement partnership between HSI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, a criminal conspiracy has been stopped, making our local communities safer.”

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with the assistance from Colombian authorities.

It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Scruggs.