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DEL RIO, Texas – An Austin man was arrested in Eagle Pass on criminal charges related to his alleged smuggling of firearms from the United States into Mexico.
According to court documents, Victor Hugo Diego-Avellaneda, 39, was attempting to leave the U.S. and enter Mexico at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry on Jan. 19. He made a negative declaration regarding possession of weapons, ammunition and currency, and was referred to a secondary inspection. A criminal complaint alleges that Customs and Border Protection officers located 40 rifles, six shotguns, one pistol, 80 magazines, and two rifle scopes stored in two large duffel bags. Diego-Avellaneda allegedly claimed that he was being paid approximately $100 for each firearm he smuggled into Mexico, and that 11 of the firearms belonged to him.
Diego-Avellaneda is charged with one count of smuggling goods out of the United States. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Garland and Katherine Gorski are prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.