An Oklahoma man has recently pleaded guilty to one count concerning a firearms trafficking conspiracy involving Mexican Cartels; part of the first successful prosecution of its kind in the United States.
Andrew Scott Pierson, 47, of Jay, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Arms Export Control Act. He faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million and not more than three years of supervised release, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) said in a press release.
“This case is the first successful prosecution in the country of the exportation and manufacturing of Mexican cartel firearms,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Jonathan D. Ross. “We are proud that this investigation made it more difficult for violent cartels to obtain firearms, and we intend to prosecute any case that will help keep guns out of the hands of these criminal organizations.”
In May 2017, an Arkansas resident received a shipment of firearm parts to perform cerakoting, a process in which polymer coating is added to a gun to improve durability. The resident saw the parts were counterfeit and called authorities, the release said. They were traced to an organization in Laredo, Texas, which sent them to Pierson in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. From there Pierson assembled the guns for the Cartel del Noreste and Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion.
Pierson surrendered at the port of entry to the U.S. on Dec. 10, 2018, and admitted to ordering and receiving firearm parts and making the guns for the cartels, the DEA said. It was found later that cartel firearm availability decreased after the arrest.
Pierson and seven others were indicted on Sept. 3, 2019. Five other co-defendants pleaded guilty before this, and one is a fugitive in Mexico, the release said.
“The cooperation among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and the government of Mexico is the foundation for combating cross-border firearms trafficking,” said ATF New Orleans Field Division Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn. “ATF works relentlessly to keep guns out of the hands of drug trafficking organizations and their violent associates. Stemming the flow of illegal guns to Mexico remains a high priority for ATF.”
Pierson will be sentenced at a later date.
