Staff Reports
As a result of their alleged participation in the unlawful acquisition and attempted distribution of firearms to Mexico, four individuals are currently under severe charges in Salt Lake County, Utah. Between April and August of this year, Iliana Dennis, Armando Figueroa Jr., Jose Manuel Barbosa Torres, and Cecilio Luis Arriaga were recently indicted for purchasing or attempting to purchase multiple Barrett.50 BMG caliber rifles. The aforementioned firearms, which are typically sold at Federal Firearm Licensees for a substantial amount of $8,500 to $10,000, were acquired at these establishments.
Utah Residents Charged with Gun Crimes, Trying to Send Guns to Arizona, then Mexicohttps://t.co/WPA7fz2Twp
— bloretta56 (@bloretta561) November 8, 2023
Background checks are conducted when purchasing firearms, and each defendant duly filled out an ATF Form 4473. It is alleged that the information supplied on the form was fraudulent, despite their claim to be the legitimate purchasers. As Dennis and Barbosa Torres attempted to acquire additional firearms in August, they were apprehended by law enforcement. It has been reported that Barbosa Torres acknowledged that the firearms were designated for Cesa Rivera, an individual residing in Arizona, who subsequently transported them to Culiacán, Mexico.
On October 23, 2023, Rivera was unequivocally apprehended in Utah in connection with an unrelated firearms case that had originated in Arizona. Along with Barbosa Torres, Dennis, Figueroa, and Arriaga, he was apprehended at the West Valley City residence of Barbosa Torres. With regard to the acquisition or attempted acquisition of firearms, Barbosa Torres is specifically charged with aiding and abetting and making fraudulent statements. Compounds have been filed against Figueroa, Arriaga, and Dennis as well.
Barbosa Torres is being held in detention pending trial, in contrast to Figueroa, Arriaga, and Dennis who were every but conditionally released from custody. The Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City is the venue where the trial is slated to commence on December 15, 2023.
Assisting United States Attorney Victoria McFarland of the District of Utah is responsible for the prosecution of this case, which is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). This instance is a component of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an effort to reduce gun violence and violent crime, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Utah. Fostering legitimacy and trust in communities, providing support for violence prevention initiatives, and establishing strategic enforcement priorities were some of the guiding principles upon which the Department launched a strategy. This situation underscores the significance of maintaining neighborhood safety and abiding by the law.
This case underscores the perilous ramifications associated with the illicit firearms market and compels fortified law enforcement strategies to be implemented in order to combat it. The motives of these alleged suppliers of firearms to Mexico, a nation afflicted by drug cartels and violence, are of the utmost concern. Law enforcement agencies' commitment to ensuring the safety of our communities is exemplified by the ongoing investigation and prosecution of these particular individuals. In order to prevent the passage of illegal weapons across our borders, it further emphasizes the need for secure border control. To protect law-abiding citizens and avert firearms from falling into the wrong hands, it is vital that we maintain vigilance and ensure that our laws are followed.
