A news conference at the Homeland Security Investigations Miami Field Office (HSI) showcased a Barrett .50 caliber rifle, as seen in the display. The photo, taken by Lynne Sladky, captures the moment and highlights the seriousness of the situation. Inset, we see the Webb County Sheriff booking photos of Gerardo Rafael Perez Jr. and Antonio Osiel Casarez, among other defendants, who are charged with being involved in a conspiracy to traffic firearms like the Barrett .50 caliber.
Federal prosecutors have apprehended a group of individuals who are believed to have been involved in a vast conspiracy. The alleged conspiracy revolves around the trafficking of high-powered military-grade rifles. These firearms were sourced from various locations in Texas and were intended to be smuggled across the border. The ultimate recipients of these weapons were drug cartels, who sought to employ them in their ongoing struggles for dominance and control.
On Monday, the Justice Department made an announcement regarding the arrest of five men in Texas. These individuals have been charged with various gun trafficking offenses. Among those arrested on March 20, was Gerardo Rafael Perez Jr., who is believed to be the leader of the conspiracy. Additionally, Luis Matias Leal, also known as “Wicho,” “Poncho,” or sometimes “El Tio,” was apprehended as the group’s alleged money man. Francisco “Frankie” Alejandro Benavides, Mark Anthony Trevino Jr., and Antonio Osiel Casarez, who is accused of being a smuggler, were also taken into custody.
According to court records, the men were included in an existing indictment on March 6. The indictment already included co-defendants Jose Emigdio Q. Mendoza, Gerardo Antonio Ibarra Jr., and Gerardo Corona Jr., who were accused of being straw-purchasers and/or smugglers and were facing multiple felony charges.
In late June 2022, prosecutors claim that Perez Jr. initiated the conspiracy by gradually obtaining firearms and organizing their transportation across the border to a cartel in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico.
Perez, Ibarra Jr., Corona Jr., Benavides, and Trevino Jr. stand accused of orchestrating sales from various sources across Texas, including unlicensed firearm dealers like Mendoza.
According to the 17-page second superseding indictment, the individuals in question resorted to dishonesty when it came to completing paperwork for licensed dealers. They would provide false information on the forms. In cases involving private sellers, they simply disregarded the requirement to complete the necessary forms, as per the existing rules set by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Additionally, no background checks were conducted, as stated by the prosecutors.
The selection of rifles included a wide range of firearms, ranging from the powerful Barret .50 caliber to the reliable military-grade FNH SCAR automatic rifles. Additionally, there were .30 caliber machine guns, specifically the M1919s, and semi-automatic military-grade FNH M294S rifles. It is worth noting that certain rifles held significant value, with individual prices reaching as high as $8,000.
According to the indictment, Mexican drug trafficking cartels highly value these firearms for their effectiveness and reliability on the battlefield.
According to prosecutors, the high price and operational value of these firearms make them powerful symbols of cartel profit, power, and prestige. This highlights their significance in territorial battles.
Some of the defendants are also accused of buying devices called “belt-fed upper receivers,” which are valuable equipment that enables the continuous loading of ammunition.
Mendoza stands accused of engaging in the sale of firearms as an unlicensed dealer. He allegedly reached out to defendants Perez, Ibarra, and Corona to arrange the purchase of at least 22 firearms between December 2022 and March of this year. Prosecutors claim that Mendoza profited a staggering $169,000 from this transaction alone.
In January 2023, he faced accusations of selling at least one Barret .50 caliber rifle in Temple, Texas, for just under $14,000. These highly profitable firearm transactions occurred repeatedly across Texas, with Mendoza allegedly providing false information about the intended recipients and the ultimate destination of the guns. Despite being turned away by licensed firearms dealers in San Antonio due to suspicious behavior, Mendoza persisted in acquiring firearms from other cities, only to sell them off for substantial sums of money.
Mendoza, along with Ibarra and Corona, was arrested in March.
All the individuals apprehended on March 20 were below the age of 30, with the youngest defendant being a mere 23 years old. If found guilty, they could potentially face significant prison sentences. Conspiracy to traffic firearms charges carry a penalty of up to 15 years behind bars, while conspiracy to straw purchase guns carries a maximum sentence of 25 years.
It remains uncertain if the newly accused individuals have hired legal representation.
According to a report by The Laredo Morning Times, Perez Jr. and Casarez were apprehended last September during a routine traffic stop. The police discovered two military-grade rifles in their vehicle and also found that Casarez had a prior conviction for a felony.
