Gun Store Owner Guilty Of Smuggling Ammunition And Firearm Magazines To Mexico

LAREDO,Texas – Robert Jacaman Sr., 60, owner of Jacaman Guns and Ammo, has entered a plea of guilty to conspiring to smuggle firearm ammunition and magazines to Mexico, announced United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Jacaman, now a convicted felon, surrendered his federal firearms license, is no longer a firearms dealer and is prohibited from possessing firearms, ammunition and destructive devices.  

According to the written plea agreement filed with the court, Jacaman admitted to unlawfully conspiring with others to fraudulently and knowingly export .223 caliber and 7.62 mm ammunition and high capacity rifle magazines designed to fit AR 15-type and AK47-type firearms, contrary to the Arms Export Control Act. Several violations Jacaman committed as part of the conspiracy were discussed with federal U.S. Magistrate Judge Diana Song Quiroga, who presided over the entry of the guilty plea this morning. 

Jacaman admitted being in direct contact with Oswaldo Roberto Borrego-Ramos aka “Baldo” during the conspiracy, who negotiated the purchase and delivery of the ammunition and firearm magazines with Jacaman. Borrego-Ramos would then send couriers to deliver cash to Jacaman and others to pick up the items to smuggle them into Mexico. In one instance, Jacaman even advised Borrego-Ramos of an outstanding balance which he had not paid for prior sales. 

Another co-defendant, Alejandro Rivera-Ruiz, admitted delivering more than $100,000 to Jacaman on behalf of Borrego-Ramos. According to court documents, Borrego-Ramos told agents he was working for “Los Zetas” Mexican criminal organization, supplying them with firearms, ammunition and firearm accessories such as firearm magazines from various sources, including Jacaman.

On March 14, 2012, authorities arrested two Mexican nationals who had just received 27,000 rounds of .223 caliber ammunition from Jacaman’s gun store. They admitted they were on their way to deliver the ammunition to an awaiting Mexican truck driver who would smuggle the ammunition to Mexico. They admitted working for Rivera-Ruiz and Borrego-Ramos.

Borrego-Ramos, Rivera-Ruiz and the two Mexican Nationals have all pleaded guilty and are serving their sentences in federal prison for their respective crimes.

Others originally named with Jacaman in the indictment, Atanacio “None” Gonzalez-Torres, 43, Jose Luis Estrada, 23, and Carlos Picazio, 30, have also pleaded guilty for their roles in this conspiracy and are pending sentencing. Jacaman was permitted to remain on bond pending his sentencing hearing, set for May 27, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. before U.S. Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo. At that time, he faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine.

The ammunition and magazines referenced in this indictment were intercepted before being delivered to Mexico. 

The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) with the assistance of the Laredo Police Department. One of HSI's top priorities is the dismantling of organizations involved in the smuggling of firearms to Mexican drug cartels. The collective expertise and authorities of our law enforcement partners during this investigation significantly contributed to preventing hundreds of rifles and handguns from reaching violent criminal organizations and prosecuting those who were responsible. Several police officers have been cross-designated as ATF Task Force officers working directly with the federal agency, assisting in the investigation of this and other crimes. Assistant United States Attorney Jose Homero Ramirez is prosecuting this case.