PORTLAND, Ore. — A 37-year-old Mexican man who had been granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for trafficking firearms, federal prosecutors announced.
Vincente Cortes Quiroz was also sentenced to three years of supervised release following his prison term.
According to court documents, investigators determined that Quiroz had acquired more than 120 firearms from licensed firearms dealers in Oregon since 2014. Prosecutors said Quiroz falsely identified himself as a U.S. citizen on numerous federal firearm purchase forms.
Authorities seized more than 70 firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition from Quiroz’s residence. Two vehicles allegedly used in the firearms trafficking operation were also seized.
“Getting illegal firearms off the streets is a top priority,” U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford said. “Through our collaboration with our law enforcement partners, we removed more than 70 illegal guns, making our community safer.”
The investigation involved the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office; Salem Police Department; Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force; Washington County Community Violence Reduction Team; Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and Sheridan Fire District.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Arin C. Heinz, Jessica Keefer and Julia Jarrett prosecuted the case.
The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is sponsored by the Office of National Drug Control Policy and provides funding and coordination for multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives.
About the Author
Discover more from Right Now Oregon
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
