THREE DEFENDANTS SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR ATTEMPTED EXPORTATION OF AMMUNITION

TUCSON, Ariz. – On March 8, 2012, Elias Bermudez-Vasquez, 31, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Cindy K. Jorgensen to 30 months imprisonment for attempted unlawful export of ammunition. Two co-defendants involved in the case, Emmanuel Bermudez-Vasquez, 27, of Tucson, Arizona, and Charice Chauntel Gaede, 27, of Tucson, Arizona, were sentenced on Feb. 8, 2012, for attempted unlawful export of ammunition. Emmanuel Bermudez-Vasquez was sentenced to 50 months prison, and Gaede was sentenced to 46 months prison.  All three defendants will be placed on supervised release following their terms of imprisonment.  All three defendants pleaded guilty to their offenses on September 16, 2011.

Between a time unknown and May, 2010, the defendants purchased over 100,000 rounds of ammunition. At the same time, they also accepted several large shipments of ammunition. During the time that purchases and shipments of ammunition were made, the defendants were aware of the fact that the ammunition was to be exported from the U.S. into the Republic of Mexico. On June 3, 2010, Elias and Emmanuel Bermudez-Vasquez drove a vehicle that contained 9,500 rounds of ammunition from their residence to the Tucson Mall where they left it parked. The vehicle was then picked up by another individual that drove it to the Port of Entry in Nogales, Ariz. Emmanuel Bermudez-Vasquez further attempted to aid the exportation of ammunition by driving out to the Port of Entry after the vehicle containing the ammunition experienced mechanical problems (and did not cross into Mexico).  An additional 27,000 rounds of ammunition was found in the defendants’ home.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela W. Woolridge, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER:           CR-10-1494-TUC-CKJ  
RELEASE NUMBER:   2012-260(Gaede, et al)

# # #

For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/