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Press Release

Firearms Trafficker Sentenced to 60 Months in Federal Prison on Firearms Conviction Stemming from Unlawful Manufacture of Firearms

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Texas

DALLAS — A firearms trafficker, who pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of aiding and abetting the unlawful manufacturing of firearms, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Barbara M. G. Lynn, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.

Jose Maria Deleon, 57, of Camp Wood, Texas, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison.  He has been in custody since October 2014 on a related federal criminal complaint.  Camp Wood is located in southwestern Real County

According to the factual resume filed in the case, between December 2010 and May 2011, Deleon entered into a criminal venture with others to manufacture firearms without a license and then sell those firearms to others.  Specifically, Deleon purchased a number of AR-15 and AK firearm receivers that needed to be manufactured to become fully functional firearms suitable for resale.  Deleon then communicated with two individuals whom he met at a gun show in North Texas, and he offered to pay them if they manufactured his firearms receivers into fully functional firearms.  These two individuals agreed to do so, for varying prices depending on the type of firearm, although neither one had an ATF license to engage in the business of manufacturing firearms.  On multiple occasions, however, Deleon paid these individuals to manufacture firearms.  Deleon also purchased firearms from them.

Ultimately, Deleon sold the firearms to other individuals who, according to the criminal complaint, took them across the Mexican border.  Deleon was involved in trafficking more than 600 firearms, 50 of which have been recovered, to date, in Mexico.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Cara Pierce prosecuted.

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Updated January 8, 2016