An armed Mexican national has admitted to breaking U.S. federal immigration and firearm laws, as reported by the Eastern District of Texas. In a recent court proceeding, Joel Bustamante Moreno, age 25, entered a guilty plea for unlawful reentry after deportation and illegal possession of a machine gun before U.S. Magistrate Judge Zack Hawthorn on Tuesday.
Moreno's arrest came on the heels of a February 2024 incident, where he was caught selling firearms, including a 9mm pistol augmented with a machine gun conversion device, also referred to as a Glock switch. Following the transaction, Moreno tried to evade the authorities, resulting in a vehicle crash and a swift foot chase that ended with his capture at a local residence, as presented in court. He had been previously deported in 2019, and 2020, but returned to the U.S. without authorization, according to details provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Following a federal grand jury indictment on November 20, 2024, Moreno is now facing a possible 10-year stint in federal prison, with the actual sentencing pending as the court weighs the presentence report by the U.S. Probation Office. While the statutory maximum is noted for context, the final judgment will be rooted in the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory considerations.
This case falls under the umbrella of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which unites law enforcement agencies and community groups to quell violent crime and gun violence, aiming to ensure the safety of communities. Key principles of PSN include fostering community trust, aiding organizations focused on violence prevention, prioritizing enforcement strategically, and, tracking the impact of these measures.
The investigation involved efforts by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives alongside Homeland Security Investigations, and the Nacogdoches Police Department. The case prosecution is handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald S. Carter.
