Nevada Man Pleads Guilty in Firearms and Money Laundering Case

A Nevada man, Luis Alberto Osorio, has pleaded guilty to charges related to purchasing high-powered firearms and ammunition for drug-trafficking organizations in Mexico. The U.S. Department of Justice reports that Osorio also faces charges of money laundering and illegal employment practices in the U.S.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Nevada indicates that Osorio conspired with others between April 2020 and September 2020 to acquire 140 firearms, magazines, and ammunition. These were intended for individuals linked to violent Mexican drug cartels and were sold for profit across the Mexican border.

Details of the Firearms

The firearms included large caliber models and long-range weapons such as the Ohio Ordnance Works M2-SLR .50 BMG, Barrett M82A1 and M107A1 .50 BMG antimaterial rifles, FN Herstal M249S 5.56x45mm, and FH Herstal SCAR 17S 7.62x51mm rifles, as detailed in court documents. Additionally, Osorio admitted to employing individuals illegally at a mining company in Nevada.

Charges and Potential Sentence

Osorio, based in Elko, has pleaded guilty to multiple charges: straw purchasing firearms, trafficking in firearms, harboring certain aliens, and conspiracy to launder money. He could face a maximum sentence of 70 years in prison.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah emphasized the impact of firearms trafficking networks. These networks supply violent cartels that pose threats to border communities and bring illicit drugs into neighborhoods. By disrupting this supply chain and prosecuting Osorio, the authorities aim to hinder these criminal organizations’ operations.

Homeland Security Efforts

Jonathan Sherwin, deputy special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Las Vegas, highlighted the dangers posed by trafficking military-style firearms to drug organizations in Mexico. Such activities increase violence and strengthen criminal networks that threaten communities on both sides of the border. He praised the efforts of HSI and the Homeland Security Task Force for disrupting these operations.

The case falls under the Homeland Security Task Force initiative, established by an executive order signed by President Donald Trump. David S. Olesky, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in the Los Angeles Field Division, which covers Nevada, stated the DEA will use its resources and expertise to hold accountable those threatening public health and safety through drug and firearms trafficking.