LAREDO, Texas - A 40-year old Laredo man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction for attempting to smuggle ammunition out of the United States, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.
Obed Rafael Cuevas-Serratos pleaded guilty Oct. 28, 2020.
Today, U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos ordered him to serve a 30-month sentence to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.
“One of our top enforcement priorities is preventing ammunition from falling into the hands of those who might seek to harm innocent people," said Deputy Special Agent in Charge Timothy Tubbs of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “HSI will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to combat this threat and hold the perpetrators accountable for putting our communities at risk."
Cuevas-Serratos admitted that on Aug. 24, 2020, he purchased 13,000 rounds of 7.62x39 millimeter ammunition in San Antonio. The following day, his car attempted to cross into Mexico.
As part of his plea, he admitted he hired a juvenile to cross the ammunition into Mexico for him.
Cuevas-Serratos was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
HSI conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Makens and April Ayers-Perez prosecuted the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
