Three men have been handed prison sentences after pleading guilty to offenses related to the possession and intended distribution of machineguns, according to an announcement by the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona. Alfredo Macias and Daniel Alfredo Galvan, both 20 and from Phoenix, along with Jesus David Vega-Rivera, 26, of Mexico, conspired to purchase and transport the weapons across the border into Mexico.
Macias and Vega-Rivera were each sentenced to 51 months, while Galvan will serve 42 months, with all three facing an additional 36 months of supervised release after their incarceration. The authorities intercepted the trio during an in-person exchange, where Vega-Rivera was found with cash to purchase the machine guns. Their arrests were facilitated by agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
In her statement during sentencing, United States District Judge Krissa M. Lanham touched upon the "seriousness and danger of machineguns being able to fire many rounds in rapid succession and the capability to cause immense injury to multiple people." The severity of the sentences reflects the potential threat such weapons could pose to public safety, particularly if they were to be funneled into illicit channels.
The case falls under the ambit of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative aimed to reduce violent crime and foster safer communities. This collaborative effort seeks to unify law enforcement entities at every level, engaging both federal and local resources. The Justice Department has pushed for a vigorous implementation of PSN since its revitalization in 2017, striving to curtail the activities of violent criminals decisively.
Plea agreements show Macias and Galvan admitting guilt to Possession or Transfer of a Machinegun on separate dates in July and June 2024 respectively, while Vega-Rivera pleaded guilty to the charge of Conspiracy to Possess or Transfer a Machinegun. The sentencing brings a close to case number CR-24-00258-PHX-KML, with further details provided in release number 2024-136_Macias by the overseeing prosecutor's office.
