LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE Southwest Border Initiative (Project Gunrunner) Biweekly Update April 19, 2010 The following is a biweekly update on significant events related to the Southwest Border Initiative. The information is collected from the different ATF offices involved in this initiative and intended for ATF use only. FIELD OPERATIONS DALLAS FIELD DIVISION Liaison, Training, Media, and Other SWB Interaction: An El Paso Field Office Special Agent provided training assistance to TPD's Southwest Border Firearms Trafficking Techniques course at the El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC), El Paso, Texas. El Paso Field Office Special Agents met with ATF Special Agents assigned to Mexico to share intelligence relevant to El Paso's border area. Investigations: El Paso Field Office ATF 781035-09-0028 ;. 1(SWB): On April 5,2010, Baldomero L._i ATF pled guilty to violation of Title 21, USC, section 841(a)(1) — Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Title 26, USC, Section 5861(d) — Possession of an Unregistered Firearm . (Silencer). [._. ATF .I was recorded on a DEA T-III talking to individuals about acquiring_a firearm with a silencer so he could conduct kidnappings in the El Paso, Texas area on behalf of i ATF [ the head of the Sinaloa cartel.r . ATF I was arrested by ATF on March 27, 2009, for poses -i-O-ii-Of i-m—a-Ciiinegun and silencer, with interiffO- -ia-fifi.federal crime of violence. I ATF is scheduled to be sentenced in June L. I 2010. i i 781035-10-0029; ATF :SWB):i On April 8, 2010, l' ATF I was arrested for knowingly posseifik.liiinn---.W.-Tifi-o-I3Tifer' ated serial numbers. i ATF ;received five firearms with obliterated i i serial numbers from ATF i on April 2, 2010, as collateral payment for an unpaid drug debt. l' ATF planned on selling fife firearms to mike 1 LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE INTERNAL USE ONLY NOT FOR DISSEMINATION OUTSIDE ATF DOJ-FF-55785 LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE i i money. L ATF _I admitted to knowing the firearms had obliterated serial numbers, and stated that he had provided a firearm on April 2, 2010, to_a_person_he knew was a convicted felon. L ATF I also made a consensually monitored phone call to i ATF j_and discussed the firearms with obliterated serial numbers. , i S/A; ATF !secured an arrest warrant for ATF 1 on April 13, 2010, for conspiracy to possess firearms with obliterated serial numbers. 781035-09-0051 ;,_ ATF (SWB): On April 7, 2010,:L ATF ;purchased a Winchester, .12 gauge shotgun from :,._ ATF ;, a convicted felon, at the direction of ATF. The suspect has loose ties to the Barrio Azteca gang operating in El Paso, Texas. , I 781035-10-0032 I ATF i(SWB): On April 14, 2010, ATF opened an investigation on I_ ATFI i Li ATF la convicted felon, for 922(g)(1) and firearms trafficking violations to Mexico. 780135-10-0028 ; ATF & Associates (SWB): On April 7, 2010, El Paso Police Department obtained a consent to search a residence, located at ATF I El Paso, Texas, pursuant to drug information. During the search, detectives found a quantity of marijuana, 20 AK-47 type rifles and rifle parts and accessories on the property. The occupants, ATF told police the firearms had been coordinated through a Hispanic male namedt „. A.. 7Allegedly, at ATF ;direction, an unidentified Hispanic man in a black Jeep Liberty with Sonora, Mexico license plates, detiVefedthe firearms to the residence. [ ATF stated that he believed that the guns were destined for Mexico. The AK-47s were purchased by targets related to an on-going ATF Phoenix investigation. Investigation is being coordinated. 781035-10-0025 t ATF (SWB): On March 29, 2010, an incendiary fire occurred at t ATF j I El Paso, Texas. The El Paso Fire Department and El Paso Police Department recovered several firearms ; 1 i and ammunition during the fire investigation from the bedroom of ATF i a convicted felon and an alleged member of the Barrio Azteca gang. Investigation uncovered that an ID card belonging to ATF i had been discovered in one of the vehicles used during the Juarez murders of the consular employees.; ATF 1 i j_ ATF has identified several locations possibly connected to the Barrio Azteca gang. The recovered firearms have been entered into NIBIN by the TX DPS El Paso laboratory. The ammunition and firearms have been sent to the ATF Walnut Creek laboratory for further analysis. ATF is coordinating this investigation with the FBI's Consulate Murder Investigation and providing all possible leads. 781035-08-0029i ATF ; (SWB): On April 14, 2010,; ATF an FBI Special Agent, was convicted of 1 count of Dealing Firearms without a License, 4 counts of Causing a FFL to Maintain a False Record and providing a False Written Statement. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 8, 2010. In March 2008, A Barrett, Model 82A1, .50 caliber rifle, serial number 20488, was recovered in Chihuahua, Mexico, after a 3.5 hour gun battle between Cartel hit men and Mexican Military. The gun battle resulted in the death of 6 hit men and one Mexican Army Captain. An El Paso Field Office Special Agent responded to the scene and photographed and traced the firearms. The investigation led to ATF and ATF agents revealed his illegal trafficking. 2 LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE INTERNAL USE ONLY NOT FOR DISSEMINATION OUTSIDE ATF DOJ-FF-55786 LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE HOUSTON FIELD DIVISION Liaison, Training, Media, and Other SWB Interaction: On Tuesday, April 6, 2010, ASAC Armando Salas was interviewed by CH 4 McAllen, Texas, the ABC affiliate about Project Gunrunner. General information on firearms trafficking and ATF's role, along with information on the Don't Lie Program was relayed. Also on April 6, 2010, SAC Dewey Webb spoke to the Texas Tribune about Project Gunrunner. The Tribune is a web-based news outlet. Dallas SAC Robert Champion was also interviewed on the El Paso area. On April 8, 2010, PIO I ATF I was interviewed by KTRH Radio about Project Gunrunner. Investigations: Austin Field Office 782010-10-0057 1. ATF I & Associates: On April 2, 2010, ATF, assisted by ICE and the Austin Police Department, arrested two subjects involved in a conspiracy to attempt to smuggle 10 "AR-15" firearms, 20,000 rounds of ammunition and over 100 ammunition magazines into Mexico. On this same date, ATF seized 10,000 rounds of .223 caliber ammunition, 10,000 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammunition, ten Bushmaster "AR-15" assault rifles, 86 .223 caliber ammunition magazines and 45 .40 caliber ammunition magazines. Five subjects have been identified as participating in this criminal scheme. Indictments are forthcoming. Houston Group V 782045-09-0017 Operation Rollin' on the River (OCDETF): On April 1, 2010, Houston Group V agents initiated TA-T- Fibuy/walk operation and purchased a quantity of marijuana in Brownsville, Texas. The marijuana was purchased from Gulf Cartel members. A monitored conversation was also held between: ATF and primary target involving a subsequent purchase of an M-203 grenade launcher and machineguns in Ho' uston, Texas. San Antonio I 782060-10-00641_ ATF _.1During March 2010, ATF received information from a San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) informant that L ATF a felon residing in Laredo, Texas was attempting to locate people in San Antonio, Texas who could sell grenades and machineguns. was confirmed to be a large cocaine trafficker and associate of the Zetas in Mexico. On April 8, 2010, F.------Ait-------- icontacted ATF and confirmed that 1 ATF was still interested in purchasing grenades, machineguns and -additional s'emi-automatic firearms. ATF is attempting to set up a buy/bust reversal with ATF ' Negotiations are continuing. 3 LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE INTERNAL USE ONLY NOT FOR DISSEMINATION OUTSIDE ATF DOJ-FF-55787 LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE San Antonio 11 (10) 782065-2010-0257 SWBI:[ ATF I (5-74-02915) 01: During.Acompliance inspection of FFL; ATF 1 .._._._._._._._iATF15-74-02915, Austin', TX, in March 2010, TO noted subject t ATF .I had purchased 36 fii-ai-iii--.M 2009. The most notable transfers were 10 assault-type rifles (five WASR-10, three DPMS A-15, & two CAI_____ ., Sportsters) in June 2009, nine various firearms in Jul y 2009, and four Bushmasters in August 2009. FFLLATF j said most of the transfers were internet purchases by subject I ATF ; but that the Bushmasters were ordered from FFL A referral of information was genefateno -Iffe-Dailas FIG. 1 ATF 1 LOS ANGELES FIELD DIVISION No new updates provided for this period. PHOENIX FIELD DIVISION Liaison, Training, Media, and Other SWB Interaction: Southwest Border Anti-Money Laundering Alliance Meeting At the request of the Arizona Attorney General, on April 14 and 15, SAC Newell represented ATF at the first Southwest Border Anti-Money Laundering "Alliance" meeting. The "Alliance," led b y the Arizona Attorney General's office is comprised of representatives from the California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas Attorney Generals' offices along with the Superintendent of the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions, the Director of the Arizona DPS and the Chief of the Phoenix Police Department. This partnership was achieved through the efforts of Arizona authorities and was memorialized in the February 2010 Settlement Agreement entered into by the State of Arizona and Western Union Financial Services. The Settlement Agreement provides for the creation of the Southwest Border Anti-Money Laundering Alliance ("Alliance") funded with $50 million, $30 million of which has already been received. The goal of the Alliance is to provide jurisdictions with resources to effectively investigate and prosecute organizations using all criminal and civil remedies to impact the profit motivated component of the narcotics, weapons and human traffickers or smugglers.