Mexican man charged with attempting to illegally export 92 gun magazines at Laredo bridge

LAREDO, Texas – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment against a 68-year-old Mexican man for smuggling goods from the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick.

Juan Jose Jimenez-Guerra is charged with attempting to smuggle a total of 92 firearm magazines into Mexico, 48 of which were 7.62 caliber designed for an AK-47 type rifle. The remaining magazines were 5.56 caliber for an AR-15 rifle.

He was originally charged by criminal complaint and has remained in custody pending further proceedings. He is expected to appear for his arraignment before a U.S. magistrate judge in the near future.

On July 3, Jimenez-Guerra was attempting to leave the United States at the Lincoln Juarez Port of Entry Bridge in Laredo, according to the allegations. There, authorities allegedly observed two firearm magazines fall from his pickup truck. They conducted a more thorough inspection of his vehicle and discovered the nearly 100 magazines located in the bed of the truck, according to the charges.

If convicted, Jimenez-Guerra face up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Scott Bowling is prosecuting the case. 

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.