A 21-year-old resident of San Antonio, Texas, has been sentenced to federal prison for attempting to smuggle firearms and ammunition into Mexico. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Ivan Alexys Oseguera Vara pleaded guilty on August 19. U.S. District Judge John A. Kazen ordered Vara to serve 30 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and imposed a $2,100 fine. During the hearing, evidence was presented that Vara had previously purchased seven firearms in his name; their current location is unknown. The court emphasized that smuggling firearms into Mexico has real consequences.
On June 3, Vara drove a gray Honda Civic to the Colombia Solidarity International Bridge and stated he was not carrying any firearms, ammunition, or large amounts of cash and was traveling from San Antonio to Mexico. However, during a secondary inspection, law enforcement officers discovered multiple bundles wrapped in plastic hidden inside the vehicle’s rear bumper, undercarriage, and center console after a K-9 alerted them.
Authorities found 59 rounds of ammunition, eight magazines, and six firearms—three rifles and three pistols—none registered to Vara. One handgun had been reported stolen.
Vara remains in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led the investigation with help from Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew P. Hakala-Finch prosecuted the case.
"The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas focuses on prosecuting federal crimes and handling civil cases for the government," according to its official website. The office covers 43 counties across Texas from Houston to the Mexican border—a region with more than nine million residents (source). It operates as part of the U.S. Department of Justice under the Attorney General (source) and partners with various law enforcement agencies at all levels (source).
The Southern District's headquarters are located in Houston (source), but it also maintains offices in cities such as Laredo where this case originated (source). Established when Congress divided Texas into judicial districts in 1902 (source), it employs over 200 attorneys today (source).
