Firearms and Ammunition Smuggler Sentenced to 51 Months

TUCSON, Ariz. – Miguel Armando Castro, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge John C. Hinderaker, to 51 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He also was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment. Castro pleaded guilty to Smuggling Goods from the United States.

On January 19, 2022, Castro attempted to exit the United States into Mexico via the vehicle lanes at the Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona. Castro was the driver and sole occupant of a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had received alerts on the Silverado and Castro related to a prior ammunition smuggling incident. Upon initial inspection of the Silverado, CBP found a bag on the front seat that contained a loaded .22 caliber revolver. CBP further inspected the vehicle and found two high-capacity Glock firearm magazines, four regular-capacity Glock firearm magazines, and one .22 caliber Walther firearm magazine.

The firearm, ammunition, and firearm magazines Castro smuggled and intended to export to Mexico are all designated on the United States Commerce Control List as prohibited by law for export from the United States into Mexico without a valid license. Castro did not have a license or any other lawful authority to export any of the items from the United States into Mexico.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Brandon Bolling and Austin Fenwick, United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER:                  4:22-cr-00678-JCH-AMM
RELEASE NUMBER:           2023-083_Castro

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