Ruben Enrique Chavez-Muniz, Destiny Shannon Mercado, and Daquasia Catherine Mercado have been sentenced for their involvement in a gun trafficking operation. The court heard that between January 2020 and January 2021, Destiny Shannon Mercado purchased numerous firearms from licensed dealers in South Carolina. These firearms were then transported to New York by Mercado, where Chavez-Muniz sold them for profit.
Destiny Shannon Mercado later involved her sister, Daquasia Catherine Mercado, who also engaged in purchasing firearms for the trafficking operation. Throughout the conspiracy, Destiny Shannon Mercado bought at least 66 guns and attempted to buy five more. Daquasia Catherine Mercado purchased at least 12 guns and tried to buy six additional ones. Law enforcement has recovered over 25% of these firearms in New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island; some were found at crime scenes or with prohibited individuals.
"Stopping the illegal flow of firearms to juveniles and criminal networks is a top priority for public safety," stated U.S. Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. "We will continue to prosecute straw purchasers and traffickers like those sentenced in this conspiracy."
"ATF Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims emphasized that cutting off firearm supplies to prohibited individuals remains a priority: "Firearms trafficking poses a danger to both local communities and communities across the country."
Chief United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain sentenced Ruben Enrique Chavez-Muniz and Destiny Shannon Mercado each to 42 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Daquasia Catherine Mercado received five years of probation as there is no parole in the federal system.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with support from the New York Attorney General’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Schoen is handling prosecution.