A federal judge in Tucson ruled Tuesday that there is sufficient probable cause to require a Mexican national to stand trial for hiding a gun and nearly 100 rounds of ammunition near the international border in Santa Cruz County, knowing it was to be smuggled into Mexico.
Julio Cesar Solis Salazar was arrested Jan. 9 after federal authorities observed him take several items out of his vehicle and place them in brush near Acorn Wash. The area was along southbound U.S. Forest Service 61, also known as Duquesne Road.
Agents who responded to the area found duffle bags containing a Beretta 9mm pistol, six loaded 15-round magazines, and two 30-round magazines, according to the criminal complaint filed with U.S. District Court. The complaint was authored by a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
In a post-Miranda statement, Solis Salazar told investigators he was directed by an individual to pick up something at a convenience store. At the store, “an unknown man” gave Solis Salazar heavy duffle bags, which he was directed to leave near the U.S. / Mexico border, the complaint states.
Solis Salazar, 20, believed the duffle bags contained a firearm and ammunition which someone else would retrieve and “take them into Mexico to be used by a criminal organization,” the complaint states. He was to be paid $500 for his efforts.
“The pistol, magazines, and ammunition that Solis Salazar smuggled and intended to be exported to Mexico are designated on the United States Commerce Control List as prohibited by law for export from the United States into Mexico without a valid license,” the HSI special agent noted in the complaint.
On Jan. 11, Solis Salazar was released from custody -over the objection of the U.S. Attorney’s Office- by Magistrate Judge D. Thomas Ferraro to await further action in the case. He appeared Feb. 1 for a preliminary hearing on the evidence used to support his arrest.
“The Court finds probable cause the Defendant committed the offense charged in Complaint,” U.S. District Judge Leslie Bowman ruled. The judge also affirmed Judge Ferraro’s release order, which requires Solis Salazar to remain in contact with Pretrial Services.
He is also prohibited from traveling outside Arizona without prior court approval, and may not possess or attempt to possess any firearm or ammunition. The next hearing in Solis Salazar’s case had not been announced as of press time.