Evergreen Reporter

Jesus Angel Vasquez Balganon, a 33-year-old from Mexico, has been sentenced to 85 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. This decision was made on November 21, 2024, by United States Chief District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps. Additionally, an order of forfeiture amounting to $97,229 was entered against him. Vasquez Balganon had pleaded guilty earlier this year on March 14 to charges of smuggling goods from the United States and international money laundering.

Vasquez Balganon confessed to exporting numerous firearms between March 2018 and January 2021, some of which were later found in Mexico. He also exported weapon components, ammunition, and accessories during this period.

His arrest occurred on April 6, 2021, at the Port of Entry in Nogales when he attempted to smuggle high-capacity magazines concealed in his vehicle into Mexico. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered nine 30-round AR-15 magazines in a shopping bag within his vehicle. Vasquez Balganon admitted awareness of the magazines and acknowledged that he was prohibited from transporting them into Mexico. He anticipated receiving $100 for this act.

Before his arrest on April 6, Vasquez Balganon had either exported or attempted to export a total of 67 firearms including a machine gun and other rifles such as an AK-103 style firearm and FN SCAR 17 rifle along with significant quantities of ammunition and magazines. Some firearms were subsequently recovered in Mexico.

The items involved are listed on the United States Commerce Control List as prohibited for export without a valid license. Neither Vasquez Balganon nor any associates possessed the necessary licenses or lawful authority for these exports.

Furthermore, between February 2019 and March 2021, Vasquez Balganon transferred over $20,000 from a U.S. bank account to one in Mexico to facilitate his illegal activities.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime through collaboration among law enforcement agencies and communities. The Department of Justice revitalized PSN in 2017 with an emphasis on targeting violent criminals through partnerships across federal, state, local, tribal law enforcement bodies alongside community involvement.

Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation while Assistant United States Attorney Raquel Arellano managed the prosecution efforts for this case.