Florida Man Arrested for Firearms Trafficking

OCALA, Fla. — A joint Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Orlando investigation has led to the arrest of a Florida man on a criminal complaint charging him with one count of knowingly making a materially false statement in connection with the acquisition of a firearm and one count of causing a federal firearm licensee to maintain false information in its official records.

Jose G. Medina, 48, of Leesburg, faces a maximum of 15 years of imprisonment — 10 years on the materially false statement offense and five years on the record-keeping offense — if convicted.

According to the complaint, between Jan. 1, 2023, and Dec. 31, 2023, Medina purchased multiple firearms in the Middle District of Florida for other individuals. Some of these firearms were intercepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection as other individuals attempted to transport them across the United States border into Mexico.

On May 27, 2023, an individual was encountered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection as he attempted to enter Mexico at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry in Texas. He was attempting to bring 10 handguns, nine rifles, seven shotguns, 20 magazines, and large amounts of assorted ammunition into Mexico. The individual stated that he was traveling from Orlando to San Diego de la Union in Guanajuato, Mexico — an area where Mexican cartels are fighting to control the territory. Medina had purchased one of these recovered firearms only nine days prior.

On Nov. 17, 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers stopped another individual at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry who also was attempting to bring five firearms to Mexico. Medina had purchased two of these firearms less than two weeks before their recovery by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

A record check by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) showed that between Jan. 1, 2023, and Dec. 31, 2023, Medina had purchased 82 firearms for a total of $42,085.61 — an amount that exceeded his reported annual income. The investigation also revealed that another firearm purchased by a person associated with Medina had recently been recovered and electronically traced by Mexican law enforcement using the ATF’s e-Trace system.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a federal criminal offense. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case is being investigated by HSI Orlando, the ATF, the DEA, the Eustis Police Department and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Nowalk.