A Tucson man, Pedro Adan Sevilla, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for his role in smuggling firearms and munitions from the United States into Mexico and for drug trafficking. Sevilla’s co-defendant, Francisco Dario Mora, was previously sentenced to five years in prison for his role in the smuggling activity.
Sevilla previously pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Smuggle Goods from the United States, Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and Possession of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime.
According to the Department of Justice, on Monday, Judge Scott Rash also issued a Final Order of Forfeiture for the value of the firearms and munitions in the amount of $32,663.48 against both defendants and ordered $12,970 cash forfeited against Sevilla.
In September 2019, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) initiated an investigation into firearms purchased by Mora, age 28, and Sevilla, age 25, that were recovered in Mexico by Mexican law enforcement officials.
ATF agents discovered that from June 2019 through September 2019, Mora and Sevilla conspired to export 40 firearms to Mexico, including AK-type rifles and AR-type pistols, 25,000 rounds of ammunition, and 760 AK-type and AR-type magazines. During this time frame, Mora purchased at least 19 firearms, one of which was recovered in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico just 27 days after he purchased it. Sevilla purchased at least 21 firearms, two of which were recovered in Mexico a short time after they were purchased. Mora and Sevilla spent approximately $45,000 for the firearms and ammunition and crossed into Mexico from the United States on several dates to the deliver the firearms and munitions.
On November 13, 2019, ATF agents executed search warrants on residences and vehicles tied to Mora and Sevilla in Tucson and Phoenix. During the search of Sevilla’s Phoenix residence, agents located a safe in Sevilla’s bedroom where they found 19 grams of cocaine and 11.9 pounds of fentanyl pills. Agents also located a bag inside Sevilla’s bedroom that contained six bags of fentanyl pills, an AR-type pistol with a loaded magazine, $12,970 cash, and a digital narcotics scale.