Rachel C. Hernandez Acting United States Attorney for the District of Arizona | U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona
On April 2, 2025, United States Attorney for the District of Arizona, Timothy Courchaine, announced a 20-count indictment against 14 individuals in Arizona. They face charges of conspiracy related to straw purchases of firearms, specifically involving material false statements to obtain 18 belt-fed firearms and .50 caliber rifles.
The indictment, now unsealed, alleges that between July 15, 2023, and December 23, 2023, 13 individuals were compensated to buy belt-fed rifles and Barrett .50 caliber semi-automatic rifles from licensed dealers in the Phoenix and Yuma areas. These firearms were allegedly purchased for David Moreno Quevedo. The individuals falsely claimed on the ATF Form 4473 that the purchases were for themselves.
The named conspirators include David Moreno Quevedo of El Mirage, Mario Alberto Ayala, Jr. of Maricopa, Randy Obed Valenzuela Chinchillas of Phoenix, Aidee Espinoza of Phoenix, Todd Robert Nuttall of Gilbert, Earl Marlow Burch of Mesa, Wyatt Michael Fernandez of Tempe, Jorge Luis Roman of Mesa, Dylan Morgan Burch of Eloy, Shawna Marie O'Shea of Tempe, Damaris Davila Moreno of Phoenix, Noelia Valenzuela Gomez of Chandler, Melissa Osorio Talamante of San Tan Valley, and Michael Andrew Wingate of Mesa.
A conviction for conspiracy may lead to a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A conviction for submitting material false statements during firearm purchases carries a potential penalty of up to ten years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
Courchaine emphasized that an indictment is merely a charge and does not imply guilt. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty through sufficient evidence presented to a jury.
This case falls under Operation Take Back America. This initiative employs resources from the Department of Justice to combat illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities. The investigation is managed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcus W. Shand overseeing the prosecution.
For more details, visit the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona website or follow their Twitter account for updates.
