Emmanuel Ramirez, 25, managed a network of so-called "straw purchasers" who bought several Beretta 9mm handguns from sporting good stores

Fifteen city residents face federal weapons charges in what authorities are describing as one of the largest Valley gun trafficking investigations in years.
All stand accused of conspiring to illegally purchase more than 60 firearms that were smuggled into Mexico between July 2007 and January 2008, federal prosecutors said.According to a 16-count indictment unsealed Monday, Emmanuel Ramirez, 25, managed a network of so-called "straw purchasers" who bought several Beretta 9mm handguns from sporting good stores across the Rio Grande Valley.Ramirez allegedly paid for the weapons and later snuck them south of the border, where it is illegal to own or purchase guns. U.S. law prohibits gun buyers for purchasing a weapon for anyone other than themselves.Federal agents arrested Ramirez, his purported primary recruiter - Carlos Garcia, 21, and several other members of the alleged network over the last four days.Prosecutors allege Ramirez gave Garcia money and instructed him on which weapons to buy.Garcia, then, reportedly paid 13 Brownsville "straw purchasers" ranging in age from 19 to 26 to lie to weapons dealers and say they were buying the guns for their own personal use.The fraudulent purchases were made at three Academy Sports and Outdoors locations in McAllen and Brownsville but were later uncovered by agents with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement..Federal authorities have stepped up their efforts against such illegal purchasing in recent months, hoping to stem the tide of weapons moving into Mexico.Guns from the United States have been blamed for fueling ongoing violent attacks by the powerful Mexican drug cartels.
The number of criminal cases involving federal gun violations in South Texas are currently a 20-year high, according to records from the Syracuse University-based Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse.Investigators classified Ramirez's case as unusual, however, because of the sheer number of co-defendants involved.
So far, six of the 13 "straw purchasers" have faced a federal magistrate judge on charges of conspiracy and making false statements on firearms records. Arrest warrants have been issued for remaining seven.If convicted, they could each face up to five years in prison for each count and $250,000 in fines.Ramirez and Garcia face additional counts of gun smuggling, punishable by up to 10 years in prison upon conviction.Ramirez's Houston-based attorney - Ira H. Chenkin - did not return calls for comment Monday. It remained unclear whether Garcia had retained an attorney as of Monday afternoon.

You Might Also Like :