Joel Bustamante Moreno, 26, a Mexican national, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for unlawful possession or transfer of a machinegun. He pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced on Wednesday, by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas announced.
Moreno was arrested in Nacogdoches during an operation targeting illegal machinegun conversion devices. He attempted to flee law enforcement during an earlier capture attempt, leading to a high-speed chase, a vehicle crash, and a foot pursuit before being taken into custody, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Moreno’s case was part of Operation Take Back America, a Department of Justice effort focused on illegal immigration, organized crime, and violent offenses. The investigation involved the Nacogdoches Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald S. Carter handled the prosecution. Moreno was arrested and sentenced in connection with illegal firearm modifications, as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
