7-Year Sentence for Cross-Border Gun Trafficking Ring

Del Rio, Texas — A Mexican citizen has been sentenced to seven years in a U.S. federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to traffic firearms from the United States into Mexico. The sentence was handed down in a federal court in Del Rio, Texas, as announced by Justin R. Simmons, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas.

The Conspiracy and Arrest

Court documents reveal that Martín Edgar Garza Pacheco, a 42-year-old resident of Melchor Múzquiz, Mexico, coordinated the purchase of 36 weapons from stores in the San Antonio area. He was assisted by two accomplices, Shiddartha Salinas Ávila and Víctor Ulysses Ybarra-Daniels.

Investigations established that Garza Pacheco would enter the United States from Mexico via the Eagle Pass Port of Entry. His purpose was to collect the purchased firearms and subsequently smuggle them back into Mexico concealed within his vehicle.

Garza Pacheco was arrested on April 22, 2023. He later pleaded guilty to the charges on August 21 of the same year. The case was presided over by U.S. District Judge Alia Moses.

Broader Investigative Context

The investigation was a joint effort conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) under Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

This case falls under the umbrella of "Operation Take Back America," a Department of Justice initiative. The operation's stated objectives are to combat illegal immigration and dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations.