6 Mexico-bound guns seized during raids at McAllen dwellings
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February 28, 2011 3:15 PM
Jared Taylor
The Monitor

McALLEN — Authorities seized five assault rifles and a pistol from four illegal immigrants during a raid at a house on the city’s northwest side last week.

State, federal and local law enforcement raided a house at 3512 Violet Ave. on Thursday, where they found Marco Guzman Velasquez, Carlos Rios Davila and Ismael Rivera Melendez attempting to sneak out a back door, a criminal complaint states.

The raid came after a Texas Department of Public Safety investigator received a tip that the house may have been used by illegal immigrants smuggling guns to Mexican drug cartels, the complaint states.

Authorities also made contact with Ferdinando Guillen Rivera and his mother-in-law, who gave consent to search the house.

Inside, investigators found a Glock 9 mm pistol hidden inside a compartment in a bedroom closet.

Authorities also found three .308-caliber rifles with their serial numbers scratched off hidden behind a china cabinet in the dining room, the complaint states.

Rios and Guzman told investigators they live in an apartment at 1116 N. 20th St., where two 5.56 caliber guns — AR-15 style assault rifles — were found between a mattress and box spring inside of one of the bedrooms, the complaint states.

Guzman, Rios, Rivera and Guillen all were arrested on federal charges of illegally possessing firearms while being unlawfully in the United States.

The raids, conducted by DPS, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration and San Juan Police Department, were part of “Operation Fallen Hero,â€