Gun Trafficker Sentenced To Seven Years In Prison

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Walter Adonai Rivera Chinchilla, 25, of Charlotte, was sentenced today to seven years in prison followed by two years of supervised release for trafficking firearms, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement.

“This Administration is committed to completely eliminating transnational criminal cartels,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson.  “A key aspect of that effort is ending the smuggling of firearms abroad, where they end up in the hands of those criminal networks and fuel violence and instability overseas.  My office will not tolerate those who exploit our lawful gun market to arm criminals—whether here or abroad.”

According to filed court documents and the sentencing hearing, law enforcement were conducting an investigation into Chinchilla’s gun trafficking activities. Investigators determined that between August 2023 to October 2024, the defendant purchased 115 firearms from federal firearms licensees (FFLs) in North Carolina. On all purchases, Chinchilla represented to the sellers that he was purchasing the firearms for himself. Court records show that on August 1, 2024, law enforcement intercepted six Glock handguns along with 17-round high-capacity magazines hidden in a shipment destined for Honduras. All six firearms had been purchased by Chinchilla in previous months.

Additionally, and according to court documents, Chinchilla agreed to buy a gun for an undercover agent posing as a buyer. On October 2, 2024, Chinchilla met the undercover agent at an FFL. Chinchilla entered the FFL and purchased two firearms which he then sold to the undercover agent. The undercover agent and Chinchilla then discussed shipping firearms to Mexico, and Chinchilla told the undercover agent that he could coordinate that shipment for a fee. On October 16, 2024, Chinchilla met again with the undercover agent at another FFL, where Chinchilla bought three firearms that he then sold to the undercover agent. Chinchilla was arrested on October 31, 2024, after he showed up for a meeting with the undercover agent about smuggling firearms out of the country.

Chinchilla pleaded guilty to gun trafficking. He remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals until he is transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

The ATF conducted the investigation.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.