United States of America v. Ruben Enrique Chavez-Muniz; Destiny Shannon Mercado

Greenville, South Carolina criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with a gun trafficking conspiracy.

Gun Traffickers Who Bought Guns in South Carolina and Sold Them in the Northeast Sentenced to Federal Prison

Ruben Enrique Chavez-Muniz, 24, of Bronx, New York and Destiny Shannon Mercado, 28, and Daquasia Catherine Mercado, 25, both of Spartanburg, were sentenced for their roles in a gun trafficking conspiracy.



Evidence presented to the court showed that, between January of 2020 and January 2021, Destiny Shannon Mercado purchased a large number of firearms (mostly handguns) from federal firearms licensees in South Carolina. Mercado then transported the guns to New York, where Chavez-Muniz, a gang member, would sell them for a significant profit. Destiny Shannon Mercado subsequently recruited her sister, Daquasia Catherine Mercado, who also purchased and attempted to purchase several guns for the traffickers.



Over the course of the conspiracy, Destiny Shannon Mercado purchased at least 66 firearms and attempted to purchase five more. Daquasia Catherine Mercado purchased at least 12 firearms and attempted to purchase six more. To date, more than 25% of the firearms purchased by these traffickers have been recovered by law enforcement in New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. Several of these guns have been found at crime scenes or recovered from prohibited persons, and two of the guns were recovered from juveniles.



"Stopping the illegal flow of firearms to juveniles and criminal networks is a top priority for public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs for the District of South Carolina, "We will continue to prosecute straw purchasers and traffickers like those sentenced in this conspiracy.”



"Cutting off the supply of firearms to prohibited individuals remains a top priority,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. "Firearms trafficking poses a danger to both local communities and communities across the country. Identifying and apprehending the individuals responsible for putting guns in the hands of prohibited individuals plays a major role in protecting public safety.”



Chief United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain sentenced both Ruben Enrique Chavez-Muniz and Destiny Shannon Mercado to 42 months in prison, with their sentences to be followed by three-years of court ordered supervision. Daquasia Catherine Mercado was sentenced to five years of probation. There is no parole in the federal system.



The investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the New York Attorney General's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Schoen is prosecuting the case.