Convicted Felon Sentenced To Maximum Term Of Imprisonment On Firearms Charges

In San Antonio this morning, convicted felon Eloy Olivares Garza was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for conspiring to smuggle approximately 220 assault-type firearms into Mexico announced U.S. Attorney Robert Pitman, HSI Special Agent in Charge Janice Ayala and ATF Special Agent in Charge Robert Elder.

On September 12, 2013, Garza pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to smuggle goods from the U.S. and one count of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.  According to court records, from August 2006 to February 2007, Garza conspired with others to illegally purchase the firearms from licensed dealers in and around San Antonio and Austin, then smuggle them into Mexico without receiving the appropriate licenses from the United States Department of State.  Garza’s criminal history includes a 1990 conviction for conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver marijuana. 

This case resulted from an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations together with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Assistant United States Attorneys Mark Roomberg prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.