Source: Office of United States Attorneys
LAREDO, Texas – A 31-year-old Laredo resident and two Mexican nationals illegally present in the United States have been charged with various federal firearm offenses, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Jose Hernandez-Garza, 25, an illegal alien residing in Laredo, has made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher dos Santos who ordered him detained pending further criminal proceedings. Fernando Patino Jr., Laredo, and Alberto Garcia-Guajardo, 31, also an illegal alien residing in Laredo are set to appear Feb. 4.
The charges allege Patino and Garcia-Guarjardo had sold several machine guns over the course of a month-long investigation to undercover authorities as well as other controlled substances, such as cocaine.
On Jan. 31, authorities executed a search warrant on the 3000 block of Monterrey Street in Laredo, according to the charges. At the location were Garcia-Guajardo and Jose Hernandez-Garza. Law enforcement allegedly discovered several firearms, narcotics and a scale and immediately took the two men into custody.
Garcia-Guajardo and Patino face up to 10 years imprisonment for possession of a machine gun, while Hernandez-Garza faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. Both could also could be ordered to pay up to a $250,000 fine.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration and Laredo Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations, Border Patrol, Border Patrol Tactical Unit, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tory R. Sailer is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.