4 illegal aliens charged with firearms offenses as a result of an ICE Las Cruces and ATF investigation

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Federal authorities on March 6 announced charges against four illegal aliens for unlawful possession of firearms and related offenses following a series of state-wide law enforcement operations.

On Feb. 25, Homeland Security Investigations special agents executed a search warrant at an apartment in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In one bedroom, agents recovered a loaded pistol with an extended magazine containing 19 rounds of ammunition. A witness stated that the firearm belonged to Maikol Ramos and had previously seen it in his possession.

Ramos, a Venezuelan national, was confirmed to be unlawfully present in the United States. Ramos is charged by criminal complaint with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm or ammunition.

In another bedroom, agents recovered another loaded pistol and ammunition from under a bed. Antoni Herrera, confirmed to be a Venezuelan national unlawfully present in the United States, admitted the firearm was his and that he had received it two weeks prior as payment for a debt.

Herrera is charged by criminal complaint with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm or ammunition.

On Feb. 19, HSI executed a federal search warrant at a residence of Raul Esparza-Gonzalez in Espanola, New Mexico. Agents discovered 11 firearms, including pistols, revolvers, shotguns, and rifles. Esparza-Gonzalez admitted to purchasing the firearms privately, knowing it was illegal for him to possess them. He stated he had been deported to Mexico previously and re-entered the United States illegally about six years ago. Esparza-Gonzalez is charged by criminal complaint with being an alien in possession of a firearm.

In a separate investigation, HSI initiated an inquiry into Cristhian Ortega-Lopez in January 2025, following an anonymous tip. Ortega-Lopez, an illegal alien from Venezuela suspected of being affiliated with Tren de Aragua, was allegedly residing with other illegal aliens in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and had been in possession of firearms. The investigators determined Ortega-Lopez had entered the United States illegally on Dec. 15, 2023, and was released pending removal proceedings. Social media evidence showed Ortega-Lopez in possession of multiple firearms at a shooting range in Las Cruces.

Ortega-Lopez is charged by criminal complaint with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm or ammunition.

All four men will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, they each face 15 years in prison.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted with the investigation with enforcement assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office, Albuquerque Police Department and New Mexico State Police.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Trembley, Patrick Cordova, Maria Armijo, and Ry Ellison are prosecuting these cases.