Jason M. Frierson U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada
A New Mexico resident admitted guilt in court today to selling firearms without proper licensing. Celso Daniel Ruiz of Santa Fe confessed to purchasing and reselling a significant number of firearms to customers in both the United States and Mexico for profit.
Court documents reveal that from December 2020 through January 2023, Ruiz acquired at least 145 firearms from licensed dealers in Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada. He frequently crossed the U.S.-Mexico border following these purchases. It was found that 18 of these firearms were later registered in different parts of Mexico. Ruiz acknowledged his awareness that numerous firearms he acquired were destined for locations outside the United States. Nevertheless, he did not possess the necessary federal firearms license.
Ruiz has pleaded guilty to a single count of operating as a firearms dealer without a license. United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware II has set the sentencing date for August 20, 2025. Ruiz is facing a potential maximum sentence of five years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. The final sentence will be determined by a judge who will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory elements.
The announcement was jointly made by United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Cicolani. The ATF conducted the investigation, and Assistant United States Attorney Dan Cowhig is managing the prosecution.
The public is encouraged to report any known instances of unlawful firearms purchases to the ATF through their hotline at 1-888-ATF-TIPS, via email at ATFTips@atf.gov, or anonymously through the website www.reportit.com.
