Mexican National Sentenced for Smuggling Munitions

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 27-year-old man from Mexico City has been ordered to prison following his involvement in smuggling munitions into Mexico through Brownsville, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson. Ruben Sosa pleaded guilty Oct. 16, 2015, to smuggling munitions in violation of U.S. export control laws.

Today, U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera ordered he serve a total of 24 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face deportation proceedings following his release from prison. At the hearing, additional evidence was presented showing communications between Sosa and other parties in Mexico negotiating the terms of agreement on an exchange for the munitions. Evidence further indicated that the munitions were smuggled into Mexico in February 2015. In handing down the sentence, Judge Olvera noted that while Sosa was a young man and had no prior criminal history, the violence in Mexico was also a consideration in the sentence. 

The munitions involved in the smuggling scheme were identified by authorities as CAA Tactical Roni G2 conversion kits. The CAA Tactical Roni G2 conversion kit is an item listed on the U.S. munitions list, and as such, may not be exported without a license. The Roni G2 functions by attaching to a Glock pistol, thereby lengthening the barrel and converting the pistol into a tactical carbine. The Roni G2 also has other features including large gas ports for improved ventilation, a Picatinny rail for weapon attachments including optics and a stock for improved recoil reduction.

Sosa placed an order for 50 of these tactical conversion kits from a licensed arms dealer located just outside of Los Angeles, California, on Dec. 26, 2014. Sosa had the tactical conversion kits shipped to Brownsville, and thereafter exported into Mexico. The Defendant admitted to Judge Olvera during sentencing that he was aware he needed a license to export the munitions but did so anyway.

Sosa will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

The charges are the result of an investigation conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Corley and Trial Attorney Thea Kendler of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section prosecuted the case.