CLEVELAND, OH – Yuendry Rodriguez Hilario, 29, of Cleveland, will spend the next 13 years and four months behind bars after being sentenced for conspiring to traffic firearms to members of dangerous drug cartels operating in Mexico. The sentence, handed down this week, underscores a growing federal crackdown on those fueling the violence south of the border with American-sourced weaponry.
Federal prosecutors detailed how Rodriguez Hilario, along with co-conspirator Saleh Yusuf Saleh, 24, also of Cleveland, operated as a pipeline for high-powered firearms. Beginning in 2021, the pair connected with undercover ATF agents posing as cartel representatives. The investigation quickly revealed a disturbing network focused on supplying AR-15s, AK-47s, and even more devastating weaponry like rocket-propelled grenade launchers to criminal organizations. Saleh Yusuf Saleh previously received a five-year and eight-month sentence on November 30, 2023, for his role in the scheme.
The operation wasn’t limited to just guns. Court records show Rodriguez Hilario also attempted to move narcotics, offering fentanyl to the undercover agents for the production of illicit pills. One co-conspirator boasted about previous sales of assault rifles to individuals in El Salvador, alongside the distribution of cocaine. The scale of the operation was significant; the conspiracy managed to sell or arrange the sale of at least 90 rifles and one Mac-10-type machine gun equipped with a silencer.
The bust went down on March 2, 2023, after Rodriguez Hilario attempted to deliver a shipment of 40 AM-15 multi-caliber firearms to the undercover agents. Saleh, responsible for sourcing and assembling the weapon parts, accompanied Rodriguez Hilario. Both men were arrested after an inspection of the firearms revealed the full extent of their illegal operation. The timing came after an undercover agent relayed urgent intel: cartel associates in Mexico were losing ground and desperately needed more firepower.
“Combating firearms trafficking networks that arm the Mexican cartels is a top Department of Justice priority,” stated Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. ATF Director Steven Dettelbach emphasized that “firearms trafficking is not a victimless crime,” pointing to the deadly consequences of arming cartels with high-powered weapons. U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida highlighted the collaborative effort through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Panama Express Strike Force.
The case was investigated by the ATF’s Tampa and Columbus Field Divisions, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Baeza leading the prosecution. This case serves as a stark reminder of the relentless flow of illegal weapons across the border and the ongoing struggle to disrupt the criminal networks profiting from the violence. The ATF continues to work with partners like Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the OCDETF to hold these traffickers accountable and stem the tide of weaponry fueling cartel wars.”
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Organized Crime|Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Press Release
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