In a concerted effort to clamp down on illegal firearms possession and trafficking, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland has brought charges against five individuals, who, as part of a broader initiative, are alleged to have violated various firearm statutes. The announcement, detailed by the office, highlighted the indictment of the quintet, who are accused of a range of offenses from aliens in possession of firearms and ammunition to firearms trafficking.
As part of Operation Take Back America, these efforts are targeting the larger battle against illegal immigration and its associated criminal undertakings, including cartels and violent crime. Charged in these indictments are Vielman Cabrera Arevalo, Erick Lozano Colindrez, and Ludwin Fuentes Lopez on allegations of illegally possessing firearms and/or ammunition. Meanwhile, Lester Araely Ramos Perez and Milton Leon-Morales, facing the law's gavel, both hail from Guatemala and stand accused of firearms trafficking and illegal possession of a firearm, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Consequences, upon conviction, include substantial prison sentences, with a possibility of up to 15 years for firearms trafficking and similar tenure for the charge of an alien in possession. Additionally, conspiring to ship and distribute over 35 firearms has woven a tangled web for the accused, with potential imprisonment stretching up to two decades for their supposed drug-related offenses.
U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes praised the work of HSI Baltimore, the FBI, the ATF, and local authorities. The prosecutors handling the cases are moving them toward trial.
