A Tucson resident, Julian Canastillo, has been sentenced to six years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for smuggling firearms and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Customs and Border Protection's Office of Field Operations.
"Laws on owning a firearm in the United States are clear — you can't possess one if you're a convicted felon — period," stated ICE Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Arizona, Francisco Burrola. "The defendant in this case not only knew he was breaking the law but also admitted to participating in organized crime — smuggling guns to Mexico. HSI and our partner agencies will not stand for this kind of criminal activity to take place — by working together, we are putting people in prison who knowingly and willingly violate our laws."
Canastillo, 23, previously pleaded guilty to six counts of smuggling goods from the United States and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was a central figure in a 51-count indictment filed on September 15, 2022, which charged 10 individuals involved in a firearms trafficking organization based in Tucson. The investigation uncovered transactions linked to the organization involving firearms later found in the Republic of Mexico. The Tucson-based organization is believed to be connected to over 200 firearms transactions, with Canastillo admitting to smuggling 36 firearms into Mexico.
The prosecution was managed by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angela W. Woolridge, Craig H. Russell, and Matthew C. Cassell from the District of Arizona, Tucson.
