San Juan, Puerto Rico - On Feb. 22, 2017, a Federal Grand Jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging Gabriel A. Pena-Castillo with trafficking firearms, announced U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. The United States Postal Inspector Service (USPIS) is in charge of the investigation in collaboration with Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
According to the indictment, Pena-Castillo, violated federal law by mailing three firearms from the Continental United States to Puerto Rico. Specifically, Pena-Castillo mailed three Glock pistols. Pena-Castillo’s actions violated 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(e) and 1715.
“Our district has renewed its efforts to investigate and prosecute the trafficking of firearms," said U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. “Law enforcement relationships and alliances in the southeast United States allow us to identify those individuals sending and receiving weapons illegally. We will continue to investigate and prosecute those individuals to the fullest extent of the law."
This case was investigated by the USPIS with the collaboration of ATF and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Victor O. Acevedo-Hernández. Pena-Castillo faces a penalty of up to five years of imprisonment.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
