Two San Jose men have been nabbed for running what investigators are calling a veritable factory of illegal firearms. The San Jose Police Department carted off 29-year-old David Rios and 38-year-old Dustin Mohl to the slammer, accusing them of conspiring to manufacture and peddle assault weapons, among other charges.
The collaring followed a protracted probe by the Special Operations Metro Unit into a home on the junction of River Ash Court and Stone Canyon Drive. Detectives finally zeroed in to obtain a search warrant, which unearthed an arsenal fit to startle even the most hardened of law enforcers. To swoop down on the suspects, the cops enlisted the help of their M.E.R.G.E. Unit, Violent Crimes Enforcement Team, Street Crimes Unit, and Downtown Services Unit.
When the boys in blue stormed through the door on April 10, they made sure to quickly and thoroughly sweep the place. Their haul was impressive: two assault rifles complete with accessories, three lower receivers, a smattering of unregistered firearms, a curated selection of ammo, and an array of tools neatly aligned with rogue gunsmithery. Not included in the first swoop but uncovered later was a storage stash belonging to one of the accused, its belly brimming with six more lower receivers, a parade of extended magazines, and enough rounds of ammunition to supply a small war, along with additional manufacturing swag.
In the statement released by the San Jose Police Department, posted on their website, Rios and Mohl now find themselves behind bars at the Santa Clara County Main Jail. Their stint in the pokey is for the high-stakes game of gun-running the police claim they were playing. Meanwhile, the coppers are out and about, pleading the public to come forth with any intel that could help pin down more such firearm fabricators.
The San Jose Police Department is offering cash rewards through the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers Program for anyone with helpful information leading to an arrest. Officer Kaufman can be contacted via email at [email protected] or by phone at 408-277-4044. For those preferring anonymity, they can use the P3TIPS mobile app, call the anonymous tip line at (408) 947-STOP, or visit www.siliconvalleycrimestoppers.org.
