Description: Tucson, Arizona criminal defense lawyers represented Defendants charged with Smuggling goods from the United States.
Manuel D. Juesus Guzman, age 19, of Rico Rico, Arizona, and Joshua Francisco Mendez, ate 19, of Tucscon, attempted to exit the United States and enter Mexico on June 7, 2022, through the pedestrian gate at the DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona. During a search at secondary inspection, Customs and Border Protection officers located four AK-47-style rifles taped to their bodies. Guzman and Mendez had two Romarms WASR-10 rifles, one Century Arms VSKA rifle, and one Century Arms BFT rifle.
The firearms that Guzman and Mendez intended to take across the border are prohibited from being exported from the United States into Mexico without a valid license. Neither Guzman nor Mendez had a valid license or any other lawful authority to export the firearms into Mexico.
Homeland Security Investigations, Department of Homeland Security conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Bolling and Micah Schmit, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.
18:554(a) Smuggling Goods from the United States
Outcome: Mendez: TWELVE (12) MONTHS AND ONE (1) DAY, with credit for time served. Upon release from imprisonment, the defendant shall be placed on supervised release for a term of THREE (3) YEARS.
Guzman: EIGHTEEN (18) MONTHS, with credit for time served. Upon release from imprisonment, the defendant shall be placed on supervised release for a term of THREE (3) YEARS
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