Ocala, Florida – Jose G. Medina from Leesburg has admitted guilt to multiple charges related to firearms trafficking. Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announced that Medina pleaded guilty to three counts of making materially false statements in acquiring firearms and three counts of causing a Federal Firearm Licensee (FFL) to keep inaccurate records. Each false statement charge could lead to up to 10 years in federal prison, while each record-keeping offense carries a potential sentence of up to 5 years. The sentencing date remains undecided.
Court documents reveal that throughout 2023, Medina engaged in straw purchasing firearms for others. Some weapons were intercepted by the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as they were being smuggled into Mexico.
On May 27, 2023, CBP stopped an individual at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry in Texas who was attempting to transport numerous firearms and ammunition into Mexico. This included handguns, rifles, shotguns, magazines, and assorted ammunition. The traveler claimed he was going from Orlando to San Diego de la Union in Guanajuato, Mexico. One firearm recovered during this incident had been bought by Medina nine days earlier.
Further incidents occurred on November 17, 2023, when CBP officers intercepted another person at the same port trying to smuggle five firearms into Mexico; two had been purchased by Medina shortly before.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) found that Medina bought 82 firearms worth $42,085.61 during the year—an amount surpassing his declared annual income. Additionally, Mexican law enforcement recently traced another firearm linked with an associate of Medina using ATF’s e-Trace system.
The investigation involved several agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Homeland Security Investigations; the Drug Enforcement Administration; Eustis Police Department; and Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which unites various law enforcement levels with communities aiming to reduce violent crime and gun violence for safer neighborhoods. Since May 26, 2021, PSN's strategy focuses on building community trust and legitimacy while supporting organizations preventing violence through strategic enforcement priorities and outcome measurement.