Rachel C. Hernandez Acting United States Attorney for the District of Arizona | U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona
Last week, a federal grand jury in Tucson indicted Andrea Villalva, 32, of Tucson, Arizona, on a charge of smuggling goods from the United States. The charges stem from an alleged incident on March 7, 2024, where Villalva attempted to exit the United States through the DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona. During a vehicle inspection, Customs and Border Protection Officers found 8 sealed cases of 5.56 XP193 rifle ammunition concealed in the trunk, totaling 8,000 rounds.
According to the complaint, Villalva admitted to being paid $150 per ammunition box successfully smuggled into Mexico. She also confessed to smuggling ammunition on three previous occasions.
A smuggling conviction carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. The case is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative aiming to combat illegal immigration, dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent crime. The operation utilizes resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
An indictment does not establish guilt; the accused is presumed innocent until proven otherwise by a jury.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations. The prosecution will be handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie A. Sottosanti from the District of Arizona in Tucson.
