Lake County Man Facing Up To 135 Years In Federal Prison For Firearms Trafficking

Ocala, Florida - United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the arrest of Fernando Munguia, Jr. (23, Leesburg) on an indictment charging him with nine counts of knowingly making a materially false statement in connection with the acquisition of a firearm and nine counts of causing a federal firearm licensee (FFL) to maintain false information in its official records. Each materially false statement charge is punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison; each false information count is punishable by up to 5 years' imprisonment. In total, Munguia faces a maximum penalty of up to 135 years in federal prison.

According to court records, between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023, Munguia illegally straw-purchased multiple firearms in the Middle District of Florida for other individuals. Nine of these firearms-along with other guns-subsequently were intercepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on May 27, 2023, as another individual attempted to transport them from Eagle Pass, Texas, across the United States' border into Mexico. Authorities intercepted Munguia's nine firearms less than a month after he purchased them.

The firearms and ammunition seized at the U.S. border on May 27, 2023.

A record check by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) showed that between January 2023 and November 2023, Munguia had purchased 44 firearms for a total of $23,334.25-an amount representing approximately two-thirds of his reported annual income.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).