U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal | U.S. Department of Justice
Two men from Nebraska and two from Iowa have been sentenced for their involvement in a conspiracy to provide false statements during firearm purchases. The court documents reveal that Alfredo Rios, Jr., 28, and Christian Javier Rios Magana, 23, both from Nebraska, along with Martin Velazquez Trujillo, 49, and Victor Alfonso Magana-Ahumada, 38, from Iowa, were involved in the scheme between late October 2022 and May 2023. They conspired to make false statements to federally licensed firearm dealers to fraudulently obtain firearms. These firearms were then illegally shipped to Mexico.
On December 12, 2024, Magana-Ahumada received a sentence of 30 months in federal prison followed by a three-year term of supervised release. Earlier on June 5, 2024, co-conspirators Alfredo Rios Jr., Rios Magana, and Velazquez Trujillo were each sentenced to five months of probation.
ATF Special Agent in Charge Bernard G. Hansen stated: “The purchase of a firearm intended for someone else is straw purchasing and it is illegal.” He emphasized that such actions bypass background checks and record-keeping requirements meant to prevent access to firearms by prohibited individuals. Hansen added that firearms trafficking is not victimless as it places weapons in the hands of violent criminals.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal announced the sentencing. The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. Launched on May 26, 2021, PSN focuses on building trust within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.
