Ruben Enrique Chavez-Muniz, Destiny Shannon Mercado, and Daquasia Catherine Mercado have been sentenced for their involvement in a gun trafficking conspiracy. The individuals were involved in purchasing firearms in South Carolina and selling them in the Northeast.
Court evidence revealed that between January 2020 and January 2021, Destiny Shannon Mercado bought numerous firearms from federal licensees in South Carolina. These firearms were then transported to New York, where Chavez-Muniz sold them for profit. Destiny Shannon Mercado also recruited her sister, Daquasia Catherine Mercado, who purchased additional guns for the operation.
Throughout the conspiracy, Destiny Shannon Mercado acquired at least 66 firearms and attempted to purchase five more. Her sister obtained at least 12 firearms and attempted six more purchases. Law enforcement has recovered over 25% of these firearms in New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. Some of these weapons were found at crime scenes or with prohibited persons; two were recovered from juveniles.
“Stopping the illegal flow of firearms to juveniles and criminal networks is a top priority for public safety,” stated U.S. Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “We will continue to prosecute straw purchasers and traffickers like those sentenced in this conspiracy.”
ATF Special Agent Bennie Mims emphasized the importance of halting firearm supplies to prohibited individuals: “Firearms trafficking poses a danger to both local communities and communities across the country."
Chief United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain sentenced Ruben Enrique Chavez-Muniz and Destiny Shannon Mercado each to 42 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Daquasia Catherine Mercado received five years of probation.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led the investigation with help from the New York Attorney General’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Schoen is prosecuting the case.