United States of America v. Leonel Castillo

Denver, Colorado criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with one count of Engaging in a Business of Dealing Firearms without a Federal Firearms License

Felon Sentenced To 30 Months For Unlawfully Dealing Firearms On Social Media

The United States Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado announces that Leonel Castillo, 34, of Denver, was sentenced to 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of Engaging in a Business of Dealing Firearms without a Federal Firearms License.



According to the plea agreement, between September 2022 and May 2023, Castillo operated a business utilizing Facebook to raffle items including firearms. Castillo purchased firearms from federal firearms licensees or third-party private sellers. He then held interactive raffles on Facebook in which participants paid for the chance to win the firearms. Castillo would then have federal firearms licenses transfer the firearms to the winners of the raffles, sometimes through straw transfers. Castillo was a felon and prohibited from possessing firearms throughout the time he ran this business.



"Criminals who deal firearms illegally can't escape consequences by using social media as their marketplace,” said United States Attorney Matt Kirsch. "I am grateful that our partners at the ATF were able to investigate this unusual scheme and that our office was able to bring this person to justice.”



United States District Court Judge Nina Y Wang presided over the sentencing. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Albert Buchman handled the prosecution.



This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.