A father and son are facing federal charges in Oklahoma after an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol allegedly uncovered a scheme to illegally traffic more than 75 firearms and bulk ammunition purchased at area gun shows.
Andres Avila, 48, identified as an illegal alien from Mexico, and his son, Anthony Avila, 22, a resident of Houston, have been charged in connection with the operation. Andres Avila also faces a separate charge of being an alien unlawfully in the U.S. in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The joint investigation was launched after special agents reportedly observed the two individuals—identified as Andres and Anthony Avila—engaging in activities consistent with straw purchasing and firearms trafficking. According to court documents, the pair were allegedly seen wearing backpacks and working together to purchase weapons. Once their backpacks were full, they reportedly emptied them into large totes stored beneath a specific vendor’s table. Authorities noted that the individuals allegedly paid cash to purchase firearms from private sellers.
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After spending over six hours at the gun show and completing several purchases, agents observed the Avilas leaving in a vehicle with a Texas license plate. A subsequent traffic stop led law enforcement to find large quantities of bulk ammunition consistent with purchases made at the gun show. A records check revealed that Andres Avila is in the U.S. illegally and prohibited from possessing firearms.
Vendors at the booth where the weapons were stored told agents that they had met the Avilas through a Texas pawn shop. The vendors explained that they would be paid cash to purchase firearm magazines. Law enforcement ultimately discovered more than 75 firearms in the totes.
“Oftentimes, illegally trafficked firearms end up in the hands of the drug cartels, terrorists, foreign adversaries, or other bad actors,” said HSI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard. “By working alongside our partners to uncover this scheme and seize these firearms, we’ve prevented a large cache of deadly weapons from potentially being used to sew chaos or fueling other illicit criminal activity or acts of violence.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Dowdell is prosecuting the case.
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