28 Charged with Firearms Offenses in HSTF Takedown

PHOENIX, Ariz. – On July 21, following a two-year investigation, a federal grand jury in Phoenix returned a 158-count indictment against Fernando Daniel Castro, Cruz Rafael Castro, Marque J’von Rogers, Taquan Antonio M. Carter, Zaccheus Faith Baselt, Juan Manuel Torres Perez, and 15 others for Conspiracy to Unlawfully Purchase Firearms for the Purpose of Dealing in Firearms Without a License, Making False Statements During the Purchase of a Firearm, Dealing in Firearms Without a License, and Conspiracy to Traffic Firearms. The indictment alleges that Fernando Daniel Castro of Phoenix and certain co-conspirators recruited others to purchase firearms from Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) in Arizona in exchange for payment. The firearms were purchased on behalf of Castro, who would then sell the firearms for profit. According to the indictment, Castro sold some of the firearms, including Glock 19 pistols and AK-style rifles, knowing or having reason to believe that they would be exported outside of the United States. The Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) investigation that led to this 158-count indictment developed from information gathered in four previously charged federal cases. On March 31, 2026, Emmanual Rabena-Velderrain of Mexico, pleaded guilty to Attempted Smuggling of Goods from the United States. Rabena-Velderrain was caught trying to cross the border into Mexico on Feb. 17, 2025, with 42 AK-style rifles and 42 7.62x39 magazines in his vehicle. Rabena-Velderrain is scheduled for sentencing on August 17, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Scott H. Rash in Tucson. On April 27, 2026, Amairany Guadalupe Armendariz Alvarez, of Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan M. Brnovich to 24 months in prison. Alvarez previously pleaded guilty to Alien in Possession of a Firearm. In her plea, Alvarez admitted to entering the United States with a non-immigrant visa and traveling to Phoenix to pick up three M249 rifles and a Colt pistol. She also admitted that she knew that the firearms were going to be smuggled into Mexico. On May 13, 2026, Alejandro Rodriguez and Maricruz Carrillo, both of Phoenix, pleaded guilty to Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition. They each admitted to possessing an M249 rifle, a Barrett .50 BMG rifle, an FN SCAR rifle, 12 AK-style rifles, 6 pistols, and 57,000 rounds of ammunition at their Phoenix residence after being convicted of a felony offense. Rodriguez and Carrillo are both scheduled for sentencing on Oct. 19. 2026, before U.S. District Judge Sharad H. Desai. On June 24, 2026, Jose Daniel Medina, of Mexico, and on July 1, 2026, Juan Jesus Estevez, of Mexico, each pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Smuggle Firearms and Ammunition from the United States. In their pleas, Medina and Estevez admitted to conspiring to obtain firearms and ammunition in Arizona that were then smuggled across the border for buyers in Mexico. Both men are scheduled for sentencing on Sept. 11, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Krissa M. Lanham. A third co-conspirator, Christian Alberto Pereida Ramirez, of Nogales, Arizona, is scheduled for a change of plea hearing on August 12, 2026. As part of this investigation, law enforcement seized 10 pistols and 56,000 rounds of ammunition. To date, HSTF partners have executed numerous federal search warrants on social media accounts, telephones, residences, and vehicles as part of this investigation. Law enforcement agents have also seized over 100 firearms and over 125,000 rounds of ammunition in Arizona.