Abel Airam Franco Garcia, a 22-year-old resident of Sonora, Mexico, has been sentenced to 37 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. This sentencing was announced on Monday by United States District Judge Steven P. Logan. Franco Garcia previously admitted to the charge of smuggling goods from the United States.
The case dates back to June 25, 2024, when Franco Garcia, a Mexican national, was intercepted at the San Luis, Arizona Port of Entry while attempting to exit the United States. A vehicle inspection led to the discovery of four firearms, six magazines—including two high-capacity ones—ammunition, and suspected fentanyl. Franco Garcia confessed to driving to Phoenix earlier that day, as part of a plan where he was reportedly compensated for transporting the firearms into Mexico.
This legal action aligns with the objectives of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that establishes collaboration between law enforcement agencies and community members to curtail violent crime and gun-related violence. The Department of Justice aims to bolster the PSN through measures that build community trust, endorse violence-prevention organizations, prioritize strategic enforcement, and evaluate outcomes.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Goldberg from the District of Arizona, Phoenix, managed the prosecution.