United States Attorney James T. Jacks
Northern District of Texas

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txn/

FOUR SENTENCED TO LENGTHY FEDERAL PRISON SENTENCES
IN FIREARMS SMUGGLING CASE

DALLAS — Job Ismael Ceron Hernandez, a citizen of Guatemala who resided in Coppell, Texas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jorge A. Solis to 48 months in federal prison, following his guilty plea in April 2009 to one count of smuggling firearms from the U.S., announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. Ceron’s co-defendants, Hector Lima and Nestor Loyo Barreda, also of Guatemala and recent residents of Grand Prairie, Texas, have pleaded guilty and have been sentenced.

Lima pleaded guilty in May 2009, to one count of conspiracy to smuggle firearms from the U.S. and one count of smuggling firearms from the U.S. He was sentenced on September 9, 2009 to 12 years in federal prison. Loyo pleaded guilty in June 2009, to one count of smuggling firearms from the U.S. and was sentenced on September 30, 2009 to eight years in federal prison.

In a related case, Jose Ranulfo Perez-Castaneda pleaded guilty in April 2009 to one count of smuggling firearms from the U.S. and was sentenced on September 24, 2009, to 46 months in federal prison. Perez is also a citizen of Guatemala.

In plea documents signed and filed with the Court, in 2007 and 2008, Lima and Loya conspired together to purchase, or have others purchase, handguns from dealers and at gun shows and attempt to transport these handguns out of the U.S. Specifically Lima and Loya were interested in Fabrique Nationale Herstal (FNH) model Five-seveN® 5.7 x 28 mm pistols and Glock Gessellschaft mbH (Glock) model pistols and ammunition. They agreed to pay up to $200 for each handgun. Loya admitted soliciting, or aiding and abetting in the solicitation of these individuals to purchase these firearms on his behalf, knowing it was illegal, and intending to transport some or all of them, without the necessary approval or authorization, to persons in Zacapa, Guatemala. In 2008, Ceron purchased or solicited others to purchase these firearms with the intent to deliver them to Lima and Loya, whom he knew intended to unlawfully export them from the U.S.

According to documents signed and filed with the Court, Perez was observed at the Big Town Gun Show in Mesquite, Texas, and while there, he purchased two FNH handguns and one Glock handgun, knowing that they were going to be concealed and exporter out of the U.S. to Guatemala.

The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Yanowitch prosecuted.

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