Six men who were living in DeLand, Florida have been sentenced for illegally straw purchasing and then trafficking 33 semi-automatic firearms that they sold to a violent Mexican drug cartel, the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, known as CJNG, which is located in Zitacuaro, Michoacan, Mexico.
According to U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida Gregory W. Kehoe, the ATF began investigating the six men in May 2023. They learned that the group was led by Angel Valazquez Delgado.
“The conspirators purchased high-caliber firearms in the United States for resale to Mexican drug cartels. These cartels were and are criminal organizations engaged in the trafficking of controlled substances into the United States,” a press release states.
One batch of illegally trafficked weapons included 11 Barrett .50 caliber rifles and 16 semi-automatic FN M249S rifles, which the U.S. Attorney’s office claimed, “are easily converted into a machinegun.”
According to the press release, one of the Barretts was recovered after a gunfight that occurred March 22, 2023, between the cartel and Mexican State Police and Mexican military personnel, which claimed two lives.
“After the shooting, a Barrett, model 82A1, .50 caliber rifle purchased by Jesus Hernandez on November 8, 2022, was recovered,” the press release states.
Praise for the investigation came from those involved.
“Dismantling this Central Florida-based firearms trafficking ring is a huge win for public safety in Mexico and America,” said ATF’s Tampa Field Division’s Special Agent in Charge Kirk Howard. “The CJNG is a notoriously brutal transnational criminal organization designated as a foreign terrorist organization that now has less fuel for its violent criminal activities, thanks to this joint team.”
The U.S. Attorney agreed.
“The investigation and prosecution of violent crime is one of the top priorities of my District,” said Kehoe. “These individuals have trafficked high-caliber, military-grade weapons into the hands of dangerous Mexican cartel members and thus have caused a serious risk to the health and safety of others. My office, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to work to hold those who jeopardize public safety accountable for their crimes.”
According to the press release, the FBI was not involved in the investigation. The case was investigated primarily by the ATF, which was assisted by Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Volusia Bureau of Investigations and the DeLand Police Department,
The real story
While it is understood that the ATF would like to take all of the credit for this successful investigation, their press release leaves out how they first learned about Delgado and his merry band of straw purchasers.
According to the actual complaint, a Florida gun dealer became suspicious of Delgado after he tried to purchase his fourth Barrett rifle, which can retail for $10,000 or more. As a result, the gun dealer contacted the ATF directly.
“Specifically, on or about April 29, 2023, an employee at a federally licensed firearms dealer located in Crestview, FL, had called Defendant (Delgado) to inform him that he was not approved to purchase a .50 caliber Barrett rifle – because he had already recently purchased three such firearms – and that he should not drive to the store. Defendant informed the employee that he was already close to the store,” the complaint states.
Shortly after the dealer denied the purchase, two other defendants showed up attempting to purchase the Barrett, but the gun store owner denied the sale because he believed they “were attempting to make a straw purchase on behalf of Defendant (Delgado).”
“This suspicious activity triggered the investigation into Defendant and the firearms trafficking organization,” the complaint states.
Takeaways
A Florida gun dealer is responsible for stopping some serious weapons from making their way to a violent Mexican drug cartel. The dealer is the reason the cartel did not receive 11 Barretts, 16 semi-auto M249s and other military-style guns.
ATF’s involvement in the case began only after they answered the phone.
The U.S. Attorney said his office “along with our law enforcement partners” will continue to fight gun crime. That way of thinking is problematic, especially when ATF is one of the law enforcement partners.
It is easy to understand why ATF wants to take sole credit for this case, especially now. Plans to merge them with DEA have been put on hold. ATF’s future is murky at best.
Their track record is abysmal, and their history is blood-soaked.
Nowadays, there are far too many examples of ATF crews laughing and joking with each other as they tear apart the homes of law-abiding folks who had done nothing wrong. Ask Mark “Choppa” Manley, Pastor Russell Fincher, Patrick “Tate” Adamiak or Maer Malinowski, whose husband Bryan was shot and killed by ATF agents last March, if you need more information.
This story is presented by the Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Journalism Project and wouldn’t be possible without you. Please click here to make a tax-deductible donation to support more pro-gun stories like this.
About Lee Williams
Lee Williams, who is also known as “The Gun Writer,” is the chief editor of the Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Journalism Project. Until recently, he was also an editor for a daily newspaper in Florida. Before becoming an editor, Lee was an investigative reporter at newspapers in three states and a U.S. Territory. Before becoming a journalist, he worked as a police officer. Before becoming a cop, Lee served in the Army. He’s earned more than a dozen national journalism awards as a reporter, and three medals of valor as a cop. Lee is an avid tactical shooter.
Well, to be really honest here, it just occurred to me that the mere existence of the ATF is a violation of the Second Amendment.
yeah, batfe is quick to take the credit and they are also quick to cast off the blame for the horrendous crimes they themselves have committed over the past several decades.
these are the same ffl’s who batfe were “gunning” for under the sleepy joe administration. but will that matter if a word or date is wrong on a 4473? not a f-ing chance.
they are no better than the concentration camp guards, “just doing my job”.
Can we clarify this story some?
ONE (1) Barrett was recovered after a 2022 gunfight in Mexico? Mexico contacted BATF who eventually traced it to Jesus Hernandez?
A year later, a Florida dealer calls BATF because there were suspicious of multiple purchases by Angel Delgado?
The story makes mention of 11 .50 Barretts and 16 FN M249S. How do they fit in?
I’m intrigued by the US Attorney’s claim “are easily converted into a machinegun.” Can anyone define “easy”?
When will the DIRECTORS and EMPLOYEES of the ATF be held accountable for the HARRASSMENT of INNOCENT American Citizens. ALSO, when will these Directors and Employees be held ACCOUNTABLE for the PRE-MEDITATED MURDER of American Citizens?
““The conspirators purchased high-caliber firearms …” What does that mean? After a caliber dependent number of shots the firearm becomes inebriated? A more literal interpretation of superior quality? I would hope that the FN M249S and Barrett 82A1 are better quality than other belt fed and .50 BMG rifles in the civilian marketplace. Maybe Gregory W. Kehoe thinks 5.56mm is a large caliber. If the M249S was easily converted to full auto, either they would be flying off the shelves of every gun store that sold them or the ATF would prohibit them as a real machine gun. And what’s… Read more »
Government – Keep working on getting them out of our country and not letting them back in.
What is a “high caliber firearm”? A real quality gun, like a S&W revolver, or a real Colt 1911?
Is the Barrett M82A1 or an FN M249S SEMIAUTOMATIC rifle REALLY that easy to convert into a machine gun?
Are these quality SEMIAUTOMATIC FN rifles truly military grade weapons?
BATFE is a notoriously brutal transnational criminal organization.
What a load of bullshit.