DEL RIO, Texas — A Mexican national was sentenced to four years in federal prison for smuggling firearms and other goods from the United States into Mexico following an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Miguel Tapia-Barcenas, 23, legally residing in Winnsboro, Texas was sentenced by a federal judge on Jan. 8 to serve 48 months.
“HSI special agents are unwavering in their dedication to stopping the illegal firearms trade that promotes violence both within our borders and internationally,” said HSI San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig S. Larrabee. “The successful outcome of this case exemplifies the tireless commitment of federal agents to keeping firearms out of the hands of transnational criminal organizations, which endanger public safety on a global scale.”
According to court documents, Miguel Tapia-Barcenas, 23, of Winnsboro, gave negative declarations for firearms, ammunition and currency over $10,000 while traveling through the Del Rio Port of Entry into Mexico July 14, 2022. CBP officers searched his vehicle and the attached trailer, revealing four semiautomatic pistols, 2,688 ammunition rounds of various calibers, and several magazines. Tapia-Barcenas said that he was being paid by a third party to smuggle firearms into Mexico and had done so on two previous occasions.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jayvee Rhoda from the Western District of Texas prosecuted the case.