Thread: Texas brother and sister sentenced for smuggling ammo to Mexico

I.C.E. New Release

August 21, 2012
Laredo, TX

North Texas brother and sister sentenced for smuggling ammo to Mexico

LAREDO, Texas – A brother and sister from north Texas were each sentenced Tuesday to more than two years in federal prison following their convictions for attempting to smuggle almost 900 rounds of ammunition and 17 firearms magazines into Mexico.

The sentences were announced by U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP); and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Richard Alan Hannah, 53, and his sister Judy Lynn Hannah, 49, from North Richland Hills, Texas, appeared before U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana Aug. 21 to receive their sentences. Richard and Judy Hannah were each sentenced to serve 29 months in federal prison. In addition to their prison sentences, Judge Saldana ordered each to also serve three years of supervised release. Both pleaded guilty to the charges April 19.

According to court documents, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers encountered Richard and Judy Hannah Feb. 12 in the inspection lanes at Laredo's Lincoln Juarez Bridge. CBP selected the 2002 Dodge truck Ms. Hannah was driving for a random inspection as it made its way on an outbound lane to Mexico. Mr. Hannah was a passenger in the vehicle. During the inspections, officers discovered 14 bundles wrapped in black electrical tape within the engine manifold. The bundles contained a total of 857 rounds of the following calibers of ammunition: 515 rounds of .223 caliber, 50 rounds of 5.7x28mm, 193 rounds of .38 caliber, and 100 rounds of .380 caliber. Some of the ammunition was already loaded into 17 high-capacity firearm magazines.

At the time of their pleas, both admitted they were hired to take the truck from Dallas, Texas, to San Luis Potosi, Mexico, knowing that the truck contained contraband.

Both have been in custody since their arrest where they will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Assistant U.S. Attorney Homero Ramirez, Southern District of Texas, prosecuted this case.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.

ICE is a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit www.ICE.gov. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423 or complete our tip form.

• U.S. Dept of Homeland Security

North Texas brother and sister sentenced for smuggling ammo to Mexico

What reason was given for the smuggling (i.e., who was the intended user inside Mexio)?