Major Export Enforcement Cases - Directorate of Defense Trade ...

support to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a designated terrorist
organization, and one count of carrying an explosive during a commission of a crime. On Feb.
24, 2011, Guillen-Martinez was indicted on charges of attempting to provide material support to
the FARC, carrying an explosive during the commission of a felony, transferring explosive
materials knowing that they will be used to commit a crime of violence, carrying a destructive
device in relation to a crime of violence, and a drug violation. Guillen-Martinez sold several
automatic rifles, more than 20 pounds of plastic explosives, and other explosives to an individual
whom he believed to be a member of the FARC. Guillen-Martinez believed that these weapons
and explosives were to be used by the FARC in Colombia to eradicate Americans from
Colombia, dead or alive. Guillen-Martinez was apprehended in the Eastern District of Virginia
when he traveled to the District in order to transfer a load of 20 kilograms of cocaine to New
York City on behalf of the FARC. This case was investigated by the DEA.
Holographic Weapons Sights and Firearms Parts to China and Japan – On Aug. 3, 2011,
Andrew Vincent O’Donnell, of Georgia, was sentenced in the Northern District of Georgia to 37
months in prison and three years supervised release for conspiracy to violate and violating the
Arms Export Control Act and possessing short barrel rifles. O’Donnell operated an eBay online
store called “LRA Tactical Gear” through which he sold various weapons parts and accessories,
including military holographic weapons sights and gun parts. O’Donnell sold more than 50
export-controlled military holographic weapons sights to a customer in Hong Kong without the
required export license, falsely labeling the shipments as toys. He also sold gun parts used to
assemble an AR15 / M16 / M4 rifle to a customer in Japan after routing the parts through a third
country to conceal the illegal nature of the exports. This investigation was conducted by ICE.
Ammunition to Mexico – On Aug. 3, 2011, federal prosecutors in the Western District of Texas
announced the arrest of Bryan Nelson Schonberg, manager of Geneva Loan and Jewelry Co.,
Jaime Rangel, Guadalupe Gallegos, Cirilio Soriano, Elataria Pedroza and Raquel Galvan. All the
defendants, with the exception of Pedroza, were charged with one count of conspiracy to smuggle
ammunition from the United States; one aiding and abetting ammunition smuggling count; one
count of conspiracy to smuggle high capacity firearms magazines; one aiding and abetting high
capacity firearms magazine smuggling count; and, and one count of conspiracy to commit money
laundering. Pedroza is charged with one count of conspiracy to smuggle ammunition from the
United States and one aiding and abetting ammunition smuggling count. According to the
indictment, the scheme involved the sale of large quantities of ammunition and large capacity
ammunition magazines to undercover agents. Furthermore, the defendants, knowing that the
goods would be smuggled into Mexico, allegedly repackaged the ammunition from its original
factory rigid cardboard boxes into taped bundles or plastic bags to make it easier to conceal from
authorities. During this investigation, authorities have seized approximately 34,500 rounds of
assault caliber ammunition and more than 180 large capacity magazines for AK-47 and AR-15
type firearms. The case was investigated by ICE.
Ammunition to Mexico – On Aug. 3, 2011, Cristhian Gallegos-Arizmendi was sentenced in the
District of Arizona to 10 months in prison and 3 years supervised release after pleading guilty on
May 2, 2011 in connection with the attempted export of ammunition to Mexico. Co-defendant
Alejandro Ruiz Escalante was sentenced on June 17, 2011 to 12 months in prison and 3 years
supervised release, after pleading guilty on May 31, 2011. Another co-defendant, Jesus
Francisco Lopez, was convicted on April 21, 2011 in the District of Arizona of attempted
unlawful export of ammunition and sentenced to 63 months in prison on July 20, 2011. In
December 2010, Lopez helped Gallegos-Arizmendi and Ruiz Escalante load 9,000 rounds of
ammunition into a van from his home in Tucson. Gallegos-Arizmendi and Ruiz Escalante were
later arrested as they drove the ammunition to Mexico. A subsequent search of Lopez’ house
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