A Nevada resident has entered a guilty plea for purchasing high-powered firearms and ammunition intended for sale to drug-trafficking groups in Mexico. This admission also includes money laundering and illegal employment practices in the U.S., as reported by the Department of Justice.
Illegal Arms Purchases and Employment
Luis Alberto Osorio, along with co-conspirators, bought 140 firearms, magazines, and ammunition between April 2020 and September of the following year. These items were allegedly acquired for sale to individuals affiliated with violent Mexican drug cartels, aiming to generate profit. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Nevada, the weapons purchased included heavy-caliber and long-range firearms such as the Ohio Ordnance Works M2-SLR .50 BMG, the Barrett M82A1 and M107A1 .50 BMG rifles, and FN Herstal M249S and SCAR 17S 7.62x51mm rifles.
Moreover, Osorio admitted to hiring individuals illegally in a Nevada-based mining company.
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Osorio has been charged with one count each of straw purchasing of firearms, trafficking firearms, harboring certain aliens, and conspiracy to launder money. If convicted on all counts, he could face up to 70 years in prison.
Official Statements
“Firearms trafficking networks empower violent cartels that destabilize border regions and facilitate drug distribution in local neighborhoods,” stated First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “By interrupting this supply chain, we are directly impairing the operational capabilities of these criminal elements.”
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Osorio is scheduled for sentencing in February.
Jonathan Sherwin, a deputy special agent with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Las Vegas, mentioned, “Trafficking military-style firearms to drug organizations in Mexico escalates violence and strengthens criminal networks on both sides of the border.”
This guilty plea is a result of diligent work by HSI, the Homeland Security Task Force, and federal, state, and local partners to interrupt the flow of weapons, funds, and criminal support.
A burned vehicle is observed as the Civil Guard of Michoacan monitors a highway following cartel violence in Aguililla, Mexico. (AFP via Getty Images)
Joint Task Force Initiative
This case is part of an initiative by the Homeland Security Task Force, established by an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump.
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David S. Olesky, a special agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration Los Angeles Field Division covering Nevada, remarked, “In organized crime and drug trafficking, firearms and drugs are intertwined.” He emphasized the commitment of DEA and partner agencies to hold accountable those posing threats to public health and safety through trafficking activities.
Brie Stimson is a Los Angeles-based writer focusing on entertainment and breaking news for Fox News Digital.