Feds Bust Weapons-Smuggling Ring

Posted: Jun 10, 2014 6:58 PM
Updated: Jun 10, 2014 6:58 PM

WESLACO - Department of Homeland Security investigators say they've brought down the leader in a conspiracy to smuggle military-grade weapons into Mexico.

The suspects allegedly planned to use those weapons to fight the Mexican military.

The conspiracy involved grenades and grenade-launchers, as well as about two-dozen assault rifles and two dozen Beretta handguns, officials said.

DHS agents began working the case in 2010. The investigation stretched to Mobile, Ala.

Agents arrested one of the suspects in Brownsville. Prosecutors refer to him simply as Toto.

Court records show the defense remains silent as to Toto's true name.
Records show a man named Guillermo de la Garza contacted an undercover DHS investigator by phone in 2010 about buying military weapons.

De la Garza and three other defendants discussed having the weapons delivered to Brownsville. They described Toto as their boss.

De la Garza eventually traveled to Mobile to make a down payment on the weapons. The total price was to be $86,500.

De la Garza and another defendant named Rafael Enrique Peyrani eventually did take possession of the weapons after inspecting them and making the final payment.

De la Garza eventually cooperated with investigators. He got a sentence of time served in 2012.

Other defendants got sentences ranging from three to four years.

Toto remains in the custody of U.S. Marshals without bond. An identity hearing in the case is scheduled for June 18.

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