Two More Guilty Pleas Entered in Federal Firearms Trafficking Case in New Mexico

United States Attorney John E. Murphy announced that 40–year–old Alberto Rivera of Columbus, NM, and 22–year–old Eva Gutierrez of Las Cruces, NM, pleaded guilty to federal charges in connection with a firearms trafficking investigation.

Appearing today before United States Magistrate Judge William P. Lynch in Las Cruces, Rivera pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, nine counts of making false statements in the acquisition of firearms, and nine counts of smuggling firearms from the United States. Gutierrez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, and one count of making false statements in the acquisition of firearms.

As a result of their guilty pleas, Rivera faces up to ten years in federal prison for each of the smuggling counts and up to five years in federal prison for each of the remaining counts; Gutierrez, up to five years in federal prison per count.

Rivera remains in federal custody. Gutierrez is currently out on conditions, and will continue the same after the plea. No sentencing date has been scheduled.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), ICE, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with assistance from the Comandante Chihuahua State Police in Palomas, Mexico and the Secretariat of Public Security in Juarez, Mexico. The U.S. Marshal’s Service, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, New Mexico State Police, Las Cruces Police Department, El Paso Police Department as well as other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies also provided assistance during the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by District of New Mexico Assistant United States Attorneys Nathan Lichvarcik and Michael Nammar.