A 31-year-old resident of Laredo and two Mexican nationals have been charged with federal firearm offenses, according to U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. The individuals were apprehended following a search warrant executed on Monterrey Street in Laredo.
Jose Hernandez-Garza, 25, an illegal alien residing in Laredo, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher dos Santos and was ordered detained pending further proceedings. Fernando Patino Jr., also from Laredo, and Alberto Garcia-Guajardo, 31, another illegal alien residing in the city, are scheduled to appear on February 4.
The charges claim that Patino and Garcia-Guajardo sold machine guns and controlled substances like cocaine during a month-long investigation involving undercover authorities.
On January 31, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the location where Garcia-Guajardo and Hernandez-Garza were found. Authorities allegedly discovered firearms, narcotics, and a scale at the scene leading to their immediate arrest.
Garcia-Guajardo and Patino could face up to ten years in prison for possession of a machine gun if convicted. Hernandez-Garza faces up to fifteen years for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. Both may also be fined up to $250,000.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; Laredo Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Border Patrol; Border Patrol Tactical Unit; Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations; and Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tory R. Sailer is handling the prosecution.
It is important to note that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation of criminal conduct. Defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty through due process.