Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
Orlando, FL – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that Joseph Alfredo Bonano Aviles (25, San Juan, Puerto Rico) and Jose Javier Corchado Montanez (34, Kissimmee) have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transfer firearms out of state. Each faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreements, between at least September and continuing through at least November 2021, Montanez, while located in the Middle District of Florida, conspired and shipped multiple firearms to Aviles in Puerto Rico. Neither Montanez nor Aviles was a licensed importer, manufacturer, collector, or dealer of firearms.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Amanda Daniels.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.