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Straw Purchase of Guns Leads to Prison Term for U.S. Citizen

U.S. Department of Justice

McALLEN, Texas --(Ammoland.com)- A United States citizen, who had resided in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico, has been sentenced to 37 months in federal prison without parole for straw purchasing 13 firearms, United States Attorney José Angel Moreno announced today.

Jesus Quintanilla, 26, convicted of one count of purchasing firearms for others after pleading guilty in October 2010, was sentenced this morning by Chief United States District Judge Ricardo H. Hinojosa. Quintanilla has been in federal custody without bond since his July 2010 arrest and will remain in custody to serve his sentence.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigation which lead to the charges against Quintanilla began after the ATF received reports that Quintanilla had purchased numerous highly trafficked firearms between July 8 and 16, 2010. After ATF agents saw Quintanilla’s attempt to purchase an additional AK-47 type weapon (the attempted purchase was denied) agents approached Quintanilla. Quintanilla admitted to agents that he had previously purchased nine AK-47 type weapons and four pistols for another person who was reportedly associated with a Mexican drug cartel.

At today’s sentencing hearing, Judge Hinojosa included enhancements for trafficking firearms and for using and possessing a firearm in connection another felony offense, specifically, the exportation of firearms in deciding upon the ultimate sentence handed down. Following the completion of the prison term the court has ordered Quintanilla to serve a three-year term of supervised release. As a convicted felon, Quintanilla will be prohibited by federal law from even possessing a firearm in the future.

Assistant United States Attorney Steven Schammel prosecuted the case.

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Three 20-Year-Olds Sentenced to Prison for Lying to Buy Firearms
As Convicted Felons They Are Prohibited From Even Possessing a Firearm.

U.S. Department of Justice

BROWNSVILLE, Texas --(Ammoland.com)- Three 20-year-old Brownsville residents who lied to buy firearms for another are now convicted felons and will be serving prison terms, United States Attorney José Angel Moreno announced today.

Yesterday, United States District Judge Hilda G. Tagle sentenced Jesus Gutierrez, 20, Roel Gonzalez, 20, and Angel Zuniga, 20, to prison for purchasing firearms by making false statements.

Gutierrez, who bought two firearms, and Gonzalez, who purchased only one, were each sentenced to six months in federal prison to be followed by a two-year-term of supervised release. Zuniga, who purchased three firearms, was sentenced to seven months in federal prison to be followed by a like number of years of supervised release.

From Oct. 16, 2008 to Nov. 6, 2008, an individual known to the defendants as “Tavo” recruited each of them to buy firearms for him providing them the money for the purchase and instructions about which firearms to buy. Each of the young men acquired the firearms from licensed dealers in Pharr, McAllen, and Brownsville, Texas, by knowingly making false statements and representations, that is, by executing a Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Form 4473, Firearm Transaction Record, claiming they were the actual buyer of the firearm when in truth they were acquiring the firearms on behalf of “Tavo.” All the firearms were eventually discovered in Mexico and traced back to the defendant purchasers. “Tavo” remains unidentified and a fugitive.

Gutierrez was immediately taken into custody, while Gonzalez and Zuniga were allowed to surrender.

Despite the fact that none of the 20-year-old defendants has a criminal record and they purchased relatively few firearms, the court noted that prison terms were necessarily to reflected the seriousness of the offense each had committed.

This case was investigated by agents with ATF. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Angel Castro.

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