Eight get prison for weapons trafficking

July 27, 2011 9:41 PM
By JARED TAYLOR/The Monitor

McALLEN — A judge on Wednesday sentenced to prison eight men who had pleaded guilty to buying guns destined for Mexico.

The sentences ranged from 30 months to five years.

Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives built their case after tracking a low-level straw purchaser up the chain of command in a trafficking ring.

ATF learned of the straw purchasing operation in June 2010, when 24-year-old Alamo resident Andres Alvarez bought several AR-15 assault rifles, federal prosecutors said.

Agents learned Alvarez had been recruited by San Juan resident Armando "Peanut" Bravo II, a convicted felon, to buy the guns. That connection led them to Alan Ramirez, who had hired Bravo to find other straw purchasers who could legally buy and possess firearms, prosecutors said.

The investigation eventually led to Juan Manuel Barrientos Lopez, 29, a Mexican national reportedly in the U.S. illegally who authorities believe called the shots in the gun trafficking ring. Agents arrested him following a high-speed chase in October 2010.

Investigators linked Barrientos to 38 AK-47 and AR-15 assault rifles that had been purchased by others.

U.S. District Judge Randy Crane read out the sentences at a hearing Wednesday morning:

Prosecutors said Bravo paid Ramirez, Palacios and Longoria about $200 each time they purchased a firearm.Michael Anthony Salazar, 20, of McAllen, 30 months in prison. Ruben Ramirez III, 20, of San Juan, 33 months in prison. Greg Palacios, 19, of San Juan, 30 months in prison. Romulo Longoria, 21, of San Juan, 30 months in prison. Alan Ramirez, 20, of McAllen, 30 months in prison. Alvarez, 24, four years in prison. Bravo, 22, five years in prison.

Each defendant was also sentenced to three years of supervised release after they complete their prison terms. Barrientos is set to be deported to Mexico after he serves his prison sentence.

Barrientos, five years in prison — the maximum allowed for lying while purchasing firearms from a licensed dealer.

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