Three Sentenced to a Combined 474 Months for Smuggling More Than 200 Guns to a Mexican Cartel
The U.S. Department of Justice said on November 12 that three members of a ten-person ring that smuggled more than 200 firearms into Mexico for a drug cartel have been sentenced in federal court in Del Rio, Texas, to a combined 474 months in prison: Edgar Josue Montelongo-Loera, 39, of Dallas received 180 months; Reymundo Hernandez-Nino, 41, a Mexican national, received 150 months; and Kenia Lizbeth Montelongo, 31, received 144 months. Chief U.S. District Judge Alia Moses imposed the sentences on November 10.
U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) opened its investigation after receiving information in August 2024. Court records show Kenia Montelongo purchased seven .380-caliber pistols and a .22-caliber pistol between May 17 and July 5, 2024. Montelongo-Loera was arrested on July 14, 2025, after a co-conspirator was caught trying to smuggle eight handguns and 19 magazines into Mexico. A search of Hernandez-Nino's San Antonio residence recovered 24 firearms, more than 4,000 rounds of ammunition and body armor, with the weapons bound for a Mexican drug cartel.
All three pleaded guilty in February: Montelongo-Loera on February 23 to conspiracy to traffic firearms, and Hernandez-Nino and Kenia Montelongo on February 26. The ATF investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Miner prosecuted it. (Source: U.S. Department of Justice)
Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 美国司法部总部大楼 (The U.S. Department of Justice headquarters building. Photo: GSM federal fixed asset pack, U.S. government work)
