U.S. Attorney Alamdar Hamdani reported that a Mexican federal who attempted to slip numerous firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition into Mexico from South Texas was given a two-year prison sentence.
Jose De Jesus Pena Dieguez, 68, entered a guilty plea on March 27 to attempting to bring ammunition and firearms onto a car roof rack. And it was n’t the first time he had exported firearms to Mexico, according to court testimony.
Dieguez tried to enter Mexico on Jan. 11 through the Progreso International Bridge, which leads from Progreso, Texas, to Nuevo Progreso, Mexico, with the weapon on a rooftop rack of a Nissan Xterra, Hamdani said.
A research of the car by U. S. Customs and Border Protection officials turned up 16 weapon, 31 weapons magazines and over 800 rounds of ammunition, he said.
Dieguez entered a guilty plea in March, citing the potential threat of his own personal gain by selling firearms illegally smuggled out of the country. ” These acts not only influence our people, they also endanger honest Hispanic residents.
In order to minimize violent crimes, including gun violence, the case was prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program, which was coordinated by the federal government, state, and local governments.
Although Dieguez was facing a 10-year jail sentence, Southern District of Texas ‘ Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane in McAllen gave him a 24-month and three-year controlled transfer.
Sandra Sanchez can be reached at [email protected].
