Federal charges have been filed against five individuals for firearms-related offenses following a multi-agency immigration enforcement operation in the Atlanta metropolitan area. This operation, taking place between March 24 and April 2, involved U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, among others.
“Our office is proud to support our law enforcement partners in this effort and other enforcement initiatives to protect our communities and safeguard our national security,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. This operation focused on those allegedly violating firearms laws and those illegally present in the country. The agencies involved seized 13 firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, with many firearms bound for Mexico.
Steven N. Schrank, special agent in charge of HSI Atlanta, confirmed, “The successful enforcement actions taken during this multi-agency operation underscore HSI’s unwavering commitment to upholding immigration laws and targeting illegal aliens allegedly possessing and trafficking in firearms.”
The defendants include Lucio Hernandez Mora, Cameron Vick, Bernice Macias Montes, Teresa Gonzales-Hoppo, and Carlos Sambrano, each facing various charges related to illegal possession and trafficking of firearms. “ATF along with our federal law enforcement partners will utilize all resources to investigate firearms trafficking by transnational criminal organizations and cartels,” noted Special Agent in Charge Benjamin Gibbons.
Law enforcement partners seized firearms and ammunition during extensive operations and investigations. “The DEA, along with our law enforcement partners, are sending a clear message to the Mexican drug cartels and their criminal associates, that keeping our communities safe is our highest priority,” emphasized Jae W. Chung, acting special agent in charge of the DEA Atlanta Division.
Acting U.S. Attorney Moultrie also noted that Criminal Complaints and Indictments contain charges, with defendants presumed innocent until proven guilty. Federal law enforcement, collaborating with state and local law enforcement agencies, played a pivotal role in these investigations.
The case is part of Operation Take Back America, aimed at countering illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations. The David G. Wilhelm Atlanta OCDETF Strike Force leads efforts to dismantle organized crime syndicates and major drug trafficking operations in the region.
For more information, contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6280. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is available online at http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
