A federal grand jury has indicted 21 people following a two-year investigation into an alleged international gun trafficking operation.
Federal authorities announced the 158-count indictment on Aug. 4 as part of a Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) crackdown.
The indictment names Fernando Daniel Castro, Cruz Rafael Castro, Marque J'von Rogers, Taquan Antonio M. Carter, Zaccheus Faith Baselt, Juan Manuel Torres Perez, and 22 other defendants.
The charges include conspiracy to unlawfully purchase firearms for the purpose of dealing firearms without a license, making false statements during the purchase of a firearm, dealing firearms without a license, and conspiracy to traffic firearms.
Castro, of Phoenix, and his alleged co-conspirators recruited others to purchase firearms from federally licensed dealers in Arizona in exchange for payment, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.
Prosecutors say the firearms—including Glock 19 pistols and AK-style rifles—were then resold for profit and exported to Mexico.
The investigation has already resulted in several guilty pleas.
On March 31, Emmanuel Rabena-Velderrain, of Mexico, pleaded guilty to attempted smuggling of goods from the United States.
Federal authorities said he was arrested on Feb. 17, 2025, while attempting to cross into Mexico with 42 AK-style rifles and 42 magazines hidden in his vehicle.
He is scheduled for sentencing on Aug. 17 in U.S. District Court in Tucson.
On April 27, Amairany Guadalupe Armendariz Alvarez, of Mexico, was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to being an alien in possession of a firearm.
In her plea agreement, she admitted entering the United States on a nonimmigrant visa and traveling to Phoenix to pick up three M249 military-grade light machine guns and a Colt pistol, knowing the weapons were destined for Mexico.
On May 13, Phoenix residents Alejandro Rodriguez and Maricruz Carrillo pleaded guilty to being felons in possession of firearms and ammunition.
Court records show they possessed an M249 rifle, a Barrett .50 BMG rifle, an FN SCAR rifle, a dozen AK-style rifles, six pistols, and 57,000 rounds of ammunition at their home.
Both are scheduled for sentencing on Oct. 19.
Jose Daniel Medina, of Mexico, pleaded guilty on June 24, and Juan Jesus Estevez, also of Mexico, pleaded guilty on July 1 to conspiracy to smuggle firearms and ammunition from the United States.
Both admitted obtaining firearms and ammunition in Arizona for buyers in Mexico. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 11.
A third defendant, Christian Alberto Pereida Ramirez, of Nogales, Arizona, is scheduled for a change-of-plea hearing on Aug. 12.
During the investigation, authorities seized more than 100 firearms and 125,000 rounds of ammunition in Arizona and executed numerous federal search warrants involving social media accounts, telephones, residences, and vehicles.
The charges carry maximum penalties ranging from five to 15 years in prison, depending on the offense, along with fines of up to $250,000.
