Tucson man sentenced to 78 months for role in trafficking firearms to Mexico
Tucson, Ariz. – In a shocking case of firearms trafficking, Timothy Alan Veninga, 48, of Tucson, Ariz., was sentenced to 78 months’ imprisonment and a judgment of forfeiture of over $61,000. Veninga had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States, aiding and abetting false statements in firearms transactions, false statements to government agency, tampering, and identity theft.
The scheme, which involved a minimum of 31 firearm transactions, was uncovered by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Veninga and his business partner, former Tucson Police Department officer Joe Valles, used fraudulent ATF Forms 4473 to document multiple firearms transactions and create records that falsely represented the identities of the purchasers.
The investigation established that the firearms were sold to members of Mexico drug cartels and were intended for Mexico. Veninga and Valles used the identities of two other people, who were not the actual purchasers of firearms, without their permission to complete and sign the Forms 4473. This allowed them to conceal the identities of the true buyers.
Veninga, owner of Ballistic Firearms in Tucson, and Valles, who operated a firearm painting business on the premises of Ballistic Firearms, were involved in the scheme from 2016 to 2017. The conspiracy involved 24 semi-automatic pistols, seven rifles, including one semi-automatic assault rifle, one semi-automatic high-capacity rifle, and two .50 caliber semi-automatic rifles.
The prosecution was handled by Serra M. Tsethlikai and Karen Rolley, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson. The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Veninga’s co-defendant, Joe Valles, a former Tucson Police Department officer, was also sentenced to 78 months’ imprisonment for his role in the trafficking scheme on July 6, 2017. The case is a stark reminder of the dangers of firearms trafficking and the importance of strict regulations to prevent such crimes.
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Key Facts
- State: Arizona
- Category: Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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