Dallas Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Federal Prison for Making a False Statement During the Purchase of a Firearm

DALLAS – Jose Villela, 25, of Dallas, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O'Connor to the statutory maximum of 60 months in federal prison, following his guilty plea in May 2012 to one count of making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas. Judge O'Connor remanded Villela, who had been on bond, into custody. 

According to plea documents filed in the case, special agents with the ATF were contacted by the Bachman Pawn and Gun shop in Dallas on December 21, 2010, when an individual, later identified as Villela, was in the process of purchasing six Draco Assault Pistols. Agents attempted to intercept Villela at the gun store, but were unable to arrive in time, so they proceeded to Villela's home. They arrived at the residence as Villela parked his car and opened his trunk. There were six Draco Pistol boxes in the trunk.

Villela advised agents that an individual had given him $2800 to purchase these specific firearms. Villela admitted that he had done this on several occasions. The investigation revealed that Villela had purchased 18 firearms from multiple dealers and 17 of those were Draco Assault Pistols. Villela admitted falsely indicating on the Firearm Form 4473, Firearms Transaction Record, that he was the actual buyer, when in fact he was acquiring them on behalf of another person.

ATF Special Agent in Charge Robert Champion stated that, "We have investigated numerous cases where these types of firearms were attempted to be trafficked from the north Texas area to the Mexican drug cartels. We will continue to do everything possible to stem the illegal flow of firearms to the criminal element, whether domestically or internationally."