Web Desk
A Mexican national has pleaded guilty to violating U.S. immigration and firearm laws, according to the Eastern District of Texas.
Joel Bustamante Moreno, 25, admitted to illegally reentering the U.S. after deportation and possessing a machine gun.
He entered his plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Zack Hawthorn on Tuesday.
Moreno was arrested following a February 2024 incident in which he was caught selling firearms.
Among them was a 9mm pistol modified with a machine gun conversion device, also known as a Glock switch.
After the sale, he attempted to flee but crashed his vehicle. A foot chase ensued, leading to his capture at a nearby residence.
Court records reveal that Moreno had been deported in 2019 and 2020 but unlawfully returned both times. A federal grand jury indicted him on November 20, 2024.
He now faces a potential 10-year prison sentence. The final ruling will depend on the U.S. Probation Office’s presentence report, federal sentencing guidelines, and other legal factors.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide effort to curb violent crime and gun-related offenses.
PSN focuses on strengthening community trust, supporting violence prevention programs, and strategically enforcing laws while measuring their impact.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Nacogdoches Police Department conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald S. Carter is handling the prosecution.
