A Round Rock man has admitted to a slew of federal firearm offenses, marking a notable conviction under Operation Take Back America. On entering a guilty plea, Job Eliezer De La Torre conceded to conspiracy charges related to firearms trafficking and operating an illicit arms business, without the necessary federal license, from the start of 2020 to late 2023, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas.
During his time as an unlicensed dealer, De La Torre bartered an estimated 356 firearms for resale with at least 24 landing in the hands of law enforcement, with half of that number subsequently discovered across the border in Mexico, this large-scale operation eventually drew the attention of the authorities, leading to a raid on his home in November last year. The search executed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives culminated in the confiscation of 44 firearms, over a thousand rounds of ammunition, records of firearm sales, along with $26,000 in cash and various precious metals.
Sales tactics for De La Torre seemingly involved online advertisements for his weapons, through which he eked out profits ranging from $20 to $200 per firearm, the evidence found in his phone highlighted the reach and profitability of his gun selling business, specifically noting an instance where he sold around 50 firearms for a total of $196,850 to a single individual within a span of five months.
The breadth of his inventory was not limited to standard firearms, as manifests included deals involving AR-15 and AR-10 rifles, an AK pistol, an FN SCAR 17S rifle, and FightLite MCR builds, these specialized armaments point to a clientele seeking more than just firearms for protection or casual use, but rather, weapons that signify a deeper plunge into armament sophistication and potential lethality.
De La Torre's conviction could result in him facing significant federal prison time, up to 15 years for the conspiracy charge and an additional five for unlicensed dealing, with sentencing yet to be determined by a federal district court judge post-consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman made the announcement of his guilt plea, while Assistant U.S. Attorney William Calve is tasked with prosecuting the case which was investigated by both the ATF and Homeland Security Investigations as part of the broader initiative of Operation Take Back America, striving to eradicate illegal immigration, dismantle cartels and protect communities from violent crime.
