A Denver man, identified as Leonel Castillo, age 34, has been sentenced to a 30-month prison term for illegally trafficking firearms through social media platforms, according to an announcement from the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado. Castillo, a previously convicted felon, acknowledged his guilt in engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a Federal Firearms License as stipulated in his plea agreement.
Running the operation from September 2022 until May 2023, Castillo cleverly utilized Facebook to conduct raffles, which included firearms as prizes. Despite being barred from possessing firearms due to his felon status, Castillo procured these firearms from both federally licensed dealers and private sellers, setting up raffles on Facebook where participants could pay to potentially win these firearms. Upon conducting the raffles, it was discovered that Castillo would coordinate the transfer of the firearms to the winners, in some instances through straw transfers.
U.S. Attorney Matt Kirsch underscored the message that hiding behind social media does not provide immunity from the law for those dealing in firearms illegally. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Kirsch stated, "Criminals who deal firearms illegally can't escape consequences by using social media as their marketplace." He expressed his gratitude for the efforts of the ATF in unraveling what he termed an "unusual scheme" and for enabling the judicial system to deliver justice.
Castillo's sentence was handed down by United States District Court Judge Nina Y Wang. As reported by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms spearheaded the investigation into Castillo's activities, with Assistant United States Attorney Albert Buchman overseeing the prosecution process. This case is seen as a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at fostering collaboration among law enforcement levels and communities to curb violent crime and reduce gun violence, ensuring safer neighborhoods.
