Alamdar Hamdani U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas
A 31-year-old resident of Laredo and two Mexican nationals have been charged with federal firearm offenses, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Jose Hernandez-Garza, 25, who is illegally residing in Laredo, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher dos Santos. The judge ordered his detention pending further proceedings. Meanwhile, Fernando Patino Jr., from Laredo, and Alberto Garcia-Guajardo, 31, also an illegal alien living in Laredo, are scheduled to appear on February 4.
The charges claim that Patino and Garcia-Guajardo sold machine guns and controlled substances like cocaine during a month-long investigation to undercover authorities.
On January 31, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the 3000 block of Monterrey Street in Laredo. According to the charges, Garcia-Guajardo and Hernandez-Garza were present at the location where authorities allegedly found firearms, narcotics, and a scale. Both men were taken into custody immediately.
If convicted of possessing a machine gun, Garcia-Guajardo and Patino could face up to ten years in prison. Hernandez-Garza faces up to fifteen years if convicted of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. All could be fined up to $250,000.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; and Laredo Police Department with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations; Border Patrol; Border Patrol Tactical Unit; Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations; and Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tory R. Sailer is prosecuting the case.
It is important to note that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation of criminal conduct without evidence yet presented in court. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty through due process.
