Five individuals have been charged with firearms-related offenses following a series of multi-agency immigration enforcement operations in metro-Atlanta. These operations took place over the past week in the Northern District of Georgia. Agencies involved included the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. There was also significant support from local law enforcement. During the operations, law enforcement seized over a dozen firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
"Our office is proud to support our law enforcement partners in this effort and other enforcement initiatives to protect our communities and safeguard our national security," said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. He added, "This initiative sends a strong message to those engaged in criminal activity, whether regarding immigration-related or firearms offenses, that the ongoing and determined coordinated efforts of our federal and local law enforcement partners will achieve measurable results in making our communities safer."
Steven N. Schrank, special agent in charge of HSI Atlanta, remarked on the operation's success, emphasizing HSI's "unwavering commitment to upholding immigration laws and targeting illegal aliens allegedly possessing and trafficking in firearms." Schrank highlighted the collaborative efforts to identify and apprehend individuals exploiting the immigration system for criminal activities.
Emphasizing the importance of cohesive partnerships, Special Agent in Charge Benjamin Gibbons stated, "ATF along with our federal law enforcement partners will utilize all resources to investigate firearms trafficking by transnational criminal organizations and cartels."
Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division, Jae W. Chung, warned, "The DEA, along with our law enforcement partners, are sending a clear message to the Mexican drug cartels and their criminal associates, that keeping our communities safe is our highest priority."
Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, stressed the importance of cooperation among federal agencies, stating, "This case clearly illustrates the success that can be achieved when federal agencies unite their resources and expertise to combat violent criminals."
The operations conducted from March 24 to April 2, 2025, targeted individuals allegedly committing firearms violations, with a significant number of the seized firearms reportedly bound for Mexico. The following individuals faced charges:
- Lucio Hernandez Mora, 45, of Riverdale, GA, was charged with possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully present in the United States. Two firearms were found in his residence.
- Cameron Vick, 22, of Atlanta, GA, was indicted on nine counts of making false statements to acquire firearms. Vick's purchases allegedly included rifles destined for Mexico.
- Bernice Macias Montes, 31, of Atlanta, GA, was charged with making false statements to a firearms dealer. ATF seized five firearms from her residence.
- Teresa Gonzales-Hoppo, 56, of Lithia Springs, GA, was charged with possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully present in the United States. One firearm was found at her residence.
- Carlos Sambrano, 28, of Rex, GA, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, with seven firearms located in his residence.
Initial court appearances for these individuals took place before U.S. Magistrate Judges Linda T. Walker and John K. Larkins, III. Despite the charges, the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
These cases are part of a broader initiative, Operation Take Back America, which is a nationwide effort involving the Department of Justice to combat illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations. The Atlanta OCDETF Strike Force, alongside various federal, state, and local agencies, leads this initiative in the region.
The U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office can be contacted for further information via email or phone, with details available on their official website.
