El Paso Man Sentenced To 15 Years In Federal Prison For Firearms Straw Purchasing And Smuggling Operation

In El Paso this morning, U.S. District Judge Frank Montalvo sentenced 25-year-old Julio Adrian Pesqueira-Galaviz, to the statutory maximum of 15 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for his leadership role in a scheme to illegally purchase firearms in the U.S. then smuggle them into Mexico for the purposes of arming members of the Sinaloa Drug Trafficking Organization announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Robert Champion, Dallas Division, and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit, El Paso Division.   

On June 26, 2013, Pesqueira pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to make a false statement during the purchase of a firearm; false statement during the purchase of a firearm; and, conspiracy to transfer a firearm for use in a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime.  By pleading guilty, Pesqueira admitted that from July 2010 to May 2013, he purchased firearms, as well as provided money to individuals in order for them to purchase firearms, from El Paso area gun dealers to include a Barrett .50 caliber rifle and an assortment of various military style semi-automatic firearms including, AK-47’s, AR-15’s and Draco 7.62x39 caliber pistols. 

Pesqueira is the first of 11 defendants charged in this case to be sentenced.  This investigation was conducted by ATF and DEA agents together with investigators from Homeland Security Investigations and the El Paso Police Department.