Why 21 People Were Arrested in Arizona’s Alleged Gun Trafficking Ring
Federal prosecutors said the case involved 21 defendants and more than 100 firearms seized in Arizona.
- Federal prosecutors indicted 21 people in a firearms trafficking ring that allegedly moved weapons from Arizona to criminal organizations in Mexico, utilizing straw purchasers across Maricopa County.
- Investigators identified that straw purchasers bought firearms from licensed dealers in Phoenix and Tempe, deliberately hiding the true buyers to supply well-funded criminal organizations operating within Mexico.
- Authorities seized more than 100 firearms and over 125,000 rounds of ammunition from the operation. "Every single illegal firearm and round taken off the street today represents potential lives saved," said JT Stevens, Homeland Security Investigations special agent.
- Prosecutors singled out Fernando Daniel Castro, 24, of Phoenix, as a key operator within the conspiracy. If convicted, remaining defendants face up to 15 years in prison and fines reaching $250,000 for each of the 158 charges.
- U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine noted that criminal organizations are well-funded with operations stretching into American communities. Federal analysts determined more than 18,000 firearms recovered in Mexico originated from the United States market.
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US task force breaks up an Arizona cross-border arms trafficking ring
It's the latest example of the increasing U.S. response to Mexico’s demands that its northern neighbor do more to stop the flow of weapons from its territory to Mexico's cartels. The post US task force breaks up an Arizona cross-border arms trafficking ring appeared first on Mexico News Daily
21 Charged in International Gun Smuggling Ring
A federal grand jury has indicted 21 people following a two-year investigation into an alleged international gun trafficking operation. Federal authorities announced the 158-count indictment on Aug. 4 as part of a Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) crackdown. The indictment names Fernando Daniel Castro, Cruz Rafael Castro, Marque J’von Rogers, Taquan Antonio M. Carter, Zaccheus Faith Baselt, Juan Manuel Torres Perez, and 22 other defendants. Th…
The U.S. prosecution has filed 158 charges against about thirty people for conspiracy to buy weapons and sell them across the border.
Among the seized were Browning .50 machine guns and Barret .50 and AR-15 rifles.
Why 21 people were arrested in Arizona’s alleged gun trafficking ring
Federal authorities announced a multi-agency takedown targeting an alleged firearms trafficking ring operating in Arizona. Investigators say the network used straw purchasers to buy guns from licensed dealers, then moved the weapons toward buyers connected to cartels and violent criminal organizations in Mexico. The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations, the ATF, Border Patrol and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Authorities say at …
A federal grand jury in Phoenix filed, on July 21, an indictment of 158 charges against Fernando Daniel Castro, Cruz Rafael Castro, Marque J'von Rogers, Taquan Antonio M. Carter, Zaccheus Faith Baselt, Juan Manuel Torres Pérez and 15 other people, after a two-year investigation, for conspiracy to buy firearms illegally for the purpose of unlicensed sale, false statements in the purchase of weapons, sale of arms without license, and conspiracy fo…
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