2 arrested for selling gun to illegal immigrants

Deseret News
February 11, 2011
SALT LAKE CITY, UT

Two men, purported to be illegal immigrants, have been arrested after being accused of selling various firearms to other illegal immigrants.

Raul Hernandez-Reyes, 26, and Andres Cervantes-Pulido, 28, both of Mexico City, were arrested by agents from the Statewide Enforcement of Crimes by Undocumented Residents Task Force for investigation of possession and sale of firearms by restricted persons to restricted persons.

Leo Lucey, who serves as the section chief over the strike force within the Utah Attorney General's Office, said investigators are still working to determine where the weapons are coming from, but said they believe they are being bought and smuggled into Mexico.

"That's typically what we're seeing," he said, noting that they are unsure if the men are linked to any specific gang or drug cartel. "We do know that at least one of the two was involved with methamphetamine."

The pair was picked up following an investigation spanning several weeks that showed guns being sold at public parking lots and local businesses.

"The information was received from residents and business people from within the immigrant community who were concerned," he said.

According to the Attorney General's Office, the men sold an unregistered silencer and hundreds of rounds of high power handgun and rifle ammunition in addition to various illegal firearms. In total, Lucey said there were at least seven transactions made since the investigation began in November.

The majority of the firearms were fully loaded when they were sold at locations throughout the Salt Lake Valley.

“Unlike some other illegal weapons seized by the SECURE Strike Force, these guns were top quality firearms in excellent condition,â€