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Humble resident sentenced for falsifying firearms records tied to Iraq shipment

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Friday, April 4, 2025

Humble resident sentenced for falsifying firearms records tied to Iraq shipment

Attorneys & Judges
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Nicholas J. Ganjei United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas

A resident of Humble, Texas, has been sentenced to federal prison for providing false information on firearms records. Yashab Idnan Sandhu, aged 53, had pleaded guilty in July 2023. U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen ordered Sandhu to serve 42 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced the sentence, noting, "The Southern District of Texas is pleased to have worked with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to have intercepted this shipment of guns before they reached Iraq, and used for whatever unknown purpose."

The case began on March 13, 2020, when authorities at the Port of Houston found a shipment containing 473 concealed handguns addressed to Iraq. Of these, 38 were pistols with obliterated serial numbers. Investigators traced these pistols back to R’s Golf & Guns, where Sandhu was a responsible person. A responsible person in this context is someone with the authority to manage compliance decisions and operations for a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL).

The investigation revealed that Sandhu had unlawfully sold guns to a suspected firearms smuggler. He admitted to altering records to indicate false sales to innocent buyers. "Being a responsible gun dealer is not just a matter of business; it’s a fundamental duty to safeguard public safety and uphold the trust placed in our agency by the American people,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Michael Weddel.

The ATF led the investigation, supported by the FBI and the Bureau of Industry and Security. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven Schammel and Heather Winter prosecuted the case. Sandhu is currently allowed to remain on bond, awaiting voluntary surrender to a federal facility.

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