DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
Southern District of Texas

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, August 28, 2018
Ryan K. Patrick
, United States Attorney
Contact: Angela Dodge

Roma Man Sentenced for Hiring Others to Purchase Firearms

McALLEN, Texas – A 21-year-old man from Roma has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction for aiding and abetting the making of false statements or representations with regards to firearms records, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Alexis Lopez pleaded guilty May 15, 2017.  

 

Today, U.S. District Judge Randy Crane sentenced Lopez to 51 months imprisonment to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. The sentence was enhanced as the court took into consideration the fact that Lopez recruited and directed three straw purchasers to purchase a total of four .50 caliber rifles on his behalf.

 

From 2015 to 2017, straw purchasers bought a total of 10 firearms for Lopez, five of which were previously recovered in Mexico. The majority of the firearms were military style firearms. In one instance, authorities recovered a .50 caliber rifle in Mexico within 17 days of its purchase.  

 

During the hearing today, the court heard that the investigation began when a federal firearms license holder (FFL) referred information to law enforcement concerning a suspicious individual believed to be using an assumed name who was attempting to purchase a grenade launcher. Authorities later determined that the individual in question was Lopez. 

 

Lopez has been and will remain in federal custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

 

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations jointly conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Requénez prosecuted the case.

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Houston Field Division