Fernando Munguia, Jr., a 24-year-old resident of Leesburg, Florida, has pleaded guilty to nine counts of making materially false statements during firearm purchases and nine counts of causing a federal firearm licensee to keep false records. He faces up to 10 years in prison for each false statement count and up to five years for each count related to the maintenance of false information by a firearms dealer. As part of his plea agreement, Munguia will forfeit nine firearms linked to these offenses. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe.
Court documents reveal that between January 1 and December 31, 2023, Munguia engaged in straw purchasing—acquiring firearms on behalf of others while falsely stating he was the actual buyer on required background paperwork. Authorities determined that Munguia was paid to buy the guns for someone else. On May 27, 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted nine of these firearms at Eagle Pass, Texas as another individual attempted to transport them into Mexico less than a month after their purchase.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives found that from January through November 2023, Munguia bought 44 firearms totaling $23,334.25—an amount equaling about two-thirds of his reported annual income—and often purchased multiple identical weapons.
"This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Custom and Border Protection," according to the press release. "It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson."
The prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through coordinated efforts among law enforcement agencies and community organizations.
