Federal Prison Term Handed Down To San Antonio Woman For Attempting To Purchase Machine Guns And For Bank Fraud

In San Antonio this morning, 38-year-old Yadira Mauricio Ybarra was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for her role in a conspiracy to purchase machine guns and attempt to smuggle them into Mexico as well as bank fraud announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Houston Division Special Agent in Charge Melvin D. King, Jr., and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Vincent Iglio.

United States District Judge Orlando Garcia also ordered that Ybarra pay $133,846.09 restitution for the bank fraud and be placed under supervised release for a period of three years after completing her prison term.

On July 12, 2011, Ybarra pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a machine gun.  According to court records, on April 19, 2011, federal authorities arrested Ybarra and 24–year-old Willy Mendoza after they paid $10,000 to an undercover agent and took possession of ten firearms--four fully-automatic machine guns and six semi-automatic assault rifles.  Court records also reflect that both Ybarra and Mendoza knew the firearms were going to be taken to Mexico.  On October 6, 2011, Mendoza was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release after pleading guilty to possession of a machine gun.

On February 7, 2012, Ybarra pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy bank fraud.  By pleading guilty, Ybarra admitted that from April 28, 2009 until July 6, 2009, she conspired with others to steal approximately $130,000 by forging signatures of various account holders at the Wells Fargo Bank, Las Palmas branch, in San Antonio.

These cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and ICE Homeland Security Investigations together with the San Antonio Police Department and the United States Secret Service.  Assistant United States Attorney Mark Roomberg prosecuted these cases on behalf of the Government.