Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Three Sentenced for Involvement in Conspiracy to Export Firearms
MCALLEN, Texas – Cassandra Camacho, 25, of Mission; and Juan Ivan Rodriguez, 34, and Nestor Leal-Cedillo, 24, of Reynoso, Mexico, have all been ordered to federal prison for conspiring to export firearms into Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Leal-Cedillo pleaded guilty June 12, 2014, while Camacho and Rodriguez entered their pleas July 1, 2014.
Today, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez sentenced Camacho to 46 months in federal prison while Rodriguez and Leal-Cedillo received respective sentencing of 37 and 60 months.
On or about Feb. 27, 2014, law enforcement learned Camacho was looking to purchase firearms to be exported into Mexico. Between then and March 5, 2014, Camacho and Leal-Cedillo discussed the transaction with an undercover agent, agreeing to pay $17,000 in return for one .50 caliber semi-automatic firearm, three AK-47 assault rifles, one AR-15 assault rifle and two fully automatic firearms.
On March 5, 2014, Camacho, Rodriguez and Leal-Cedillo met with agent at a location in Edinburg to finalize the sale and transfer, at which time Leal-Cedillo inspected the firearms. As agents approached, Leal-Cedillo and Rodriguez fled on foot and were subsequently detained. Camacho was detained at the scene.
Leal-Cedillo’s sentence was enhanced as the court determined that he possessed a firearm during the course of the commission of the offense.
All will remain in custody pending transfer to a Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Juan Villescas is prosecuting the case.