Defendant Jorge Pena-Venzor acquired high-powered rifles and other firearms for sale domestically and in Mexico
DENVER - United States Attorney Jason R. Dunn today announced that Jorge Pena-Venzor of Denver pleaded guilty to the unlicensed dealing of firearms. Pena-Venzor purchased firearms, including semi-automatic assault weapons, for sale to buyers in Mexico and within the United States. The Denver ATF joined in this announcement.
According to the stipulated facts contained in Pena-Venzor’s plea agreement, from Dec. 26, 2017, through Feb. 11, 2019, Pena-Venzor worked to obtain firearms for the purpose of selling them to third parties. Pena-Venzor located the firearms, negotiated prices, and obtained them on behalf of an associate, who then provided most of the funding to buy the firearms.
Pena-Venzor profited financially from this arrangement by obtaining a markup or “finder’s fee" for the firearms that he procured. It was Pena-Venzor’s understanding that the these firearms would be ultimately transported to end users in Mexico. During this time period, Pena-Venzor procured more than eight firearms for the purpose of transporting these firearms to individuals in Mexico.
During this same time period, Pena-Venzor also sold firearms to other individuals. One of the firearms sold by the defendant was a fully automatic AR-15-style rifle, capable of shooting more than one round by a single pull of the trigger. Pena-Venzor did not possess a license to sell firearms and was aware that it was illegal to engage in the business of selling firearms without a license.
The guilty plea was tendered before U.S. District Court Judge Daniel D. Domenico on Nov. 19, 2020. Pena-Venzor is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Domenico on Feb. 12, 2021. This case was investigated by the ATF. The defendant is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron M. Teitelbaum.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado. Related court documents can be found on PACER by searching for Case Number 19-cr-412.
This case was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
