Washington State Resident Charged with Attempting to Smuggle Firearms into Mexico through Eagle Pass Port of Entry
(Press Release) In Del Rio, Texas, on Wednesday, May 6, 2020, federal authorities filed a criminal complaint against 51–year-old Miguel Diaz-Calderon for attempting to smuggle numerous firearms, ammunition, gun magazines and other gun parts into the Republic of Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash; Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden, San Antonio Division; and, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Eagle Pass Port Director Paul Del Rincon.
According to the complaint, CBP officers arrested the Union Gap, WA, resident yesterday afternoon at the Eagle Pass International Bridge #2 while trying to export 27 handguns, 12 rifles, over 10,000 rounds of ammunition, 70 gun magazines and an assortment of other gun parts concealed inside his truck. Authorities also seized $5,000 in U.S. Currency. The complaint further alleges that Diaz told investigators that he was expecting to be paid another $5,000 upon delivery of the contraband.
Upon conviction, Diaz faces up to ten years in federal prison. He remains in custody at this time.
HSI is investigating this case. The Eagle Pass Police Department’s Auto Theft Unit and the Maverick County Sheriff’s Office assisted CBP during the outbound inspection. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Kennedy is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
A criminal complaint is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.
