Yuma-area man sentenced to nearly 11 years in prison for firearms trafficking
PHOENIX (KYMA) – A Yuma-area man has been sentenced to nearly 11 years in prison for firearms trafficking, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
The sentencing happened Tuesday after 21-year-old Jorge Adan Garcia Hernandez of Roll, Arizona previously pled guilty to aiding and abetting the receipt of firearms for use in a drug trafficking crime, the DOJ said.
Between April of 2023 and November of 2024, the DOJ said Hernandez sold firearms from federal firearms licensees to the following people:
Juan Carlos Yanez Molina, 27, of Somerton Jonathan Daniel Hernandez Noriega, 25, of San Luis, Arizona Jose Guadalupe Cota Garcia, 25, of Mexico Roani Hernandez Jr., 27, of Bullhead City, Arizona
During a delivery back in June of 2024, Hernandez gave 21-year-old Carlos Eduardo Diaz-Barba of San Luis, Arizona five pistols and magazines, which Diaz-Barba then tried to smuggle them into Mexico at the San Luis Port of Entry on Hernandez’s behalf, according to the DOJ.
The DOJ said the firearms were to be delivered to Los Salazares, which is a faction of the Sinaloa Cartle.
Evidence collected also revealed that Hernandez was the leader of Fuerzas Especiales Jackson, which is a group of sicarios operating in San Luis, Mexico, the DOJ said.
In October of 2024, Hernandez was arrested after law enforcement, according to the DOJ, discovered plans to “retaliate against a rival group for an attack” in San Luis, Mexico after they killed and injured members of his group.
As a result of Hernandez’s arrest, a firearm trafficking cell operating in the Yuma area was disrupted, and a group of sicarios operating in San Luis, Mexico was dismantled, the DOJ said.
Molina, Noriega, Garcia and Hernandez Jr. were previously convicted of material false statements during the acquisition of firearms, with the DOJ saying Molina was sentenced to 1.5 years in prison, Noriega was sentenced to three years in prison, Garcia was sentenced to nearly one year in prison and Hernandez Jr. was sentenced to nearly one year in prison as well.
In addition, the DOJ said Diaz-Barba pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the the receipt of firearms for use in a drug trafficking crime, and he will be sentenced Monday, August 31.
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