Two Nebraska men and two Iowa men have been sentenced for their involvement in a conspiracy to provide false statements during the purchase of firearms. The individuals, Alfredo Rios, Jr., Christian Javier Rios Magana, Martin Velazquez Trujillo, and Victor Alfonso Magana-Ahumada, engaged in illegal activities from late October 2022 through May 2023.
Court documents reveal that these men conspired to make false statements to federally licensed firearm dealers to fraudulently obtain firearms. The firearms were falsely claimed by the purchasers as being for themselves but were illegally shipped to Mexico.
On December 12, 2024, Victor Alfonso Magana-Ahumada received a sentence of 30 months in federal prison followed by a three-year term of supervised release. Earlier on June 5, 2024, his co-conspirators Alfredo Rios, Jr., Christian Javier Rios Magana, and Martin Velazquez Trujillo were each sentenced to five months’ probation.
"The purchase of a firearm intended for someone else is straw purchasing and it is illegal," stated Bernard G. Hansen, ATF Special Agent in Charge of the Kansas City Field Division. He emphasized that such actions bypass essential background checks and record-keeping requirements meant to enhance public safety by preventing access to firearms by prohibited individuals.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the United States Postal Inspection Service. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa announced the sentences.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The project focuses on fostering trust within communities while supporting organizations that prevent violence before it occurs.