Nevada Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Firearms to Mexico

A man from Nevada, Luis Alberto Osorio, admitted guilt on Friday to purchasing high-powered firearms and ammunition with plans to sell them to drug-trafficking groups in Mexico. He also confessed to money laundering and employing people without legal status in the U.S., as informed by the Department of Justice.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Nevada reported that Osorio coordinated with others from April 2020 through last September. Together, they acquired 140 firearms, magazines, and ammunition aimed at supplying violent Mexican drug cartels. These purchases included potent firearms like Ohio Ordnance Works M2-SLR .50 BMG, Barrett M82A1, M107A1 .50 BMG antimaterial rifles, and others, noted in court records.

Moreover, Osorio acknowledged employing individuals illegally at a mining firm in Nevada. He confessed to various charges: one for straw purchasing of firearms, another for firearms trafficking, one for harboring undocumented individuals, and one for conspiracy to launder money. If convicted on all charges, Osorio may face up to 70 years of imprisonment.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah remarked, “Firearms trafficking networks feed the violent cartels that terrorize border communities and pump illicit drugs into our neighborhoods. By cutting off this supply chain and holding this defendant accountable, we are directly disrupting the operational capabilities of these dangerous criminal organizations.” Osorio’s sentencing is set for February.

Jonathan Sherwin, deputy special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Las Vegas, stated, “Trafficking military-style firearms and ammunition to drug trafficking organizations in Mexico fuels violence, strengthens criminal networks and threatens communities on both sides of the border.” He highlighted the collaboration between HSI, the Homeland Security Task Force, and various federal, state, and local partners to address these issues.

The initiative forms part of the Homeland Security Task Force’s efforts, launched under an executive order by President Donald Trump.

David S. Olesky, special agent in charge of the DEA Los Angeles Field Division, commented on the entwined nature of guns and drug trafficking. He emphasized the commitment of DEA and allied forces to apply their combined expertise to hold responsible those posing public health and safety threats by trafficking drugs and guns.