News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2011
Contact: Chuvalo J. Truesdell
404-893-7124

Defendants Sentenced in Federal Court for Attempting to Send Firearms to Mexico

Defendants Planned to Transport Assault Rifles Across Border

MAR 17 -- ATLANTA, GA - DARIO RODRIGUEZ-GOMEZ, 29, of Doraville, Georgia and MANUEL GAMEZ-VALENZUELA, 46, of Atlanta, Georgia, were sentenced today by United States District Judge Charles A. Pannell on charges that they possessed semi-automatic assault rifles that they intended to send to Mexico. RODRIGUEZ-GOMEZ was also sentenced for being an illegal alien in possession of firearms. DANIEL BERNAL-PEREZ, 36, of Doraville, Georgia, who was also involved in the scheme to send firearms to Mexico, was sentenced on the charge that he was an illegal alien in possession of firearms.

Rodney G. Benson, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the DEA Atlanta Field Division said, “Those who deal dangerous drugs and use weapons to protect their ill-gotten gain are a true menace to society, which holds true for the defendants in this case. Because of their criminal actions, they will spend well-deserved time in prison.â€