Two Orlando men, Ernesto Vazquez, 23, and Derick Yamir Perez Diaz, 22, have been indicted on federal firearms trafficking charges. The indictment, unsealed by United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg, includes charges of conspiracy to traffic firearms, firearms trafficking, and dealing in firearms without a license. The charges suggest a serious operation, according to the Department of Justice, with over 100 firearms allegedly distributed over various locales, including Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
The two accused, if convicted on all counts, each face up to 15 years in federal prison. The indictment details a scheme where Vazquez and, Perez Diaz navigated a robust trafficking network, sourcing firearms from private sellers and even Chinese manufacturers. These transactions often happened in broad daylight, in public arenas, with Perez Diaz transporting trunks filled with weapons to their destinations.
Diligence by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) led to a search warrant for Vazquez’s residence. There, agents discovered an arsenal that included multiple firearms, ample ammunition, and even grenades. These findings highlight the scale and potential danger of the operation. Underscoring the gravity, an ATF official emphasized the commitment to taking violent offenders and firearms traffickers off our streets to reduce firearms-related violence.
This sweeping indictment is but a piece of a larger tapestry—the wave of enforcement under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aiming to lower violent crime and gun violence. The program, reinvigorated on May 26, 2021, binds community-based organizations with law enforcement to foster community trust, strategic priorities,, and measurable results. Assistant United States Attorney Noah P. Dorman will prosecute the case, which will likely serve as a litmus test for the strength and efficacy of the revamped PSN initiative.
