HSI Eagle Pass investigation results in Central Texas man charged for smuggling dozens of firearms into Mexico through Eagle Pass

DEL Rio, Texas — A Central Texas man was arrested in Eagle Pass on criminal charges related to his alleged smuggling of firearms from the United States into Mexico following an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

According to court documents, Victor Hugo Diego-Avellaneda, 39, was attempting to leave the U.S. and enter Mexico at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry on Jan. 19. He made a negative declaration regarding possession of weapons, ammunition, and currency. He was then referred to a secondary inspection. A criminal complaint alleges that CBP officers located 40 rifles, six shotguns, one pistol, 80 magazines, and two rifle scopes stored in two large duffel bags. Diego-Avellaneda allegedly claimed that he was being paid approximately $100 for each firearm he smuggled into Mexico, and that 11 of the firearms belonged to him.

Diego-Avellaneda is charged with one count of smuggling goods out of the United States. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Garland and Katherine Gorski from the Western District of Texas are prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.