Five Arrested In Southern Texas For Trafficking Of Military-Grade Weapons To Cartel

By Greg Moriarty | Wednesday, 27 March 2024 12:00 PM
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Five Arrested In Southern Texas For Trafficking Of Military-Grade Weapons To Cartel

In a recent development, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the apprehension of five individuals in southern Texas, suspected of a trafficking scheme to supply military-grade weaponry to a Mexican cartel.

The accused, Gerardo Rafael Perez Jr., Francisco Alejandro Benavides, Mark Anthony Trevino, Luis Matias Leal, and Antonio Osiel Casarez, were allegedly involved in the procurement and transportation of the firearms.

According to the DOJ, Perez's organization employed Benavides and Trevino as straw purchasers, a term used to describe a third party who illegally acquires weapons on behalf of another entity, as defined by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). This method is typically employed when the end recipient is unlikely to pass a background check, as per the U.S. Concealed Carry Association.

The DOJ further stated that the organization managed to amass over 100 weapons from unlicensed dealers or federal firearm licensees, with their straw purchasers making false representations. The arsenal allegedly included FNH SCAR rifles, Barrett .50 caliber rifles, FNH M294S rifles, and M1919 rifles. Leal is said to have provided the funds for these transactions, while Casarez is accused of smuggling the weapons into Mexico and returning with the proceeds.

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The five defendants face charges of conspiracy to traffic firearms and conspiracy to straw purchase firearms. The first charge could result in a maximum sentence of 15 years, while the second could lead to a maximum of 25 years. Additional charges of conspiracy to smuggle goods from the United States and conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime have been levied against Perez, Casarez, Leal, and Benavides. These charges could carry sentences of up to five years and 20 years, respectively.

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Perez is also facing two more firearms trafficking charges. Leal, Benavides, and Trevino have been charged with falsifying information when buying a firearm and straw purchasing. Falsification of information could result in a 10-year sentence. All charges carry fines of up to $250,000, according to the DOJ.

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