Feds arrest two people trying to buy weapons, bring them back to Mexico

Two Mexican nationals were arrested last week after allegedly trying to buy weapons, including a machine gun and grenades, from an undercover agent in Albuquerque, then take them south of the border.

Fernando Espino-Ortiz and Perla Janet Ruiz-Lozano are charged with firearms trafficking and conspiracy to traffic firearms, illegal possession of a machine gun, receipt and possession of an unregistered destructive device, and aiding and abetting.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico, Espino-Ortiz will remain in custody while Ruiz-Lozano will be released until trial. If convicted, each can face up to 15 years in prison.

According to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court, Espino-Ortiz told a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent after his arrest that he was instructed to buy weapons in Albuquerque, bring them back to Mexico and that he would be paid $5,000 for the task.

The complaint states that between Sept. 3 and 25, two undercover agents were communicating with a broker, who wanted to buy a machine gun, four rifles and 30 grenades for $132,000. The broker told agents he would be sending “one or more associates” to buy the weapons.

Agents said on Sept. 25, Espino-Ortiz crossed the border in Columbus with Ruiz-Lozano and two children. By 3 p.m., he had arrived at an undisclosed location in Bernalillo County to meet the undercover agents.

The complaint states that Espino-Ortiz, who brought $100,000 in cash, told the agent he was instructed to pick up the weapons then take them back to Mexico. Espino-Ortiz and Ruiz-Lozano were arrested while loading them into the SUV.

Agents said during the arrests, they saw Ruiz-Lozano hold a cellphone as if she were making a call. A firearms broker later contacted one of the agents expressing concerns over the deal, “explaining that he heard screaming on the phone after the deal, which is consistent with the broker being able to hear Ruiz at the time of the arrest.”

“Based on my training and experience, I believe these facts are consistent with Ruiz being in contact with the firearms broker to keep him informed about the transaction,” an agent said.

ATF and Homeland Security Investigations in El Paso investigated the case with help from New Mexico State Police.