McALLEN — An Edinburg man faces a firearm charge in an alleged case of an illegal straw purchase in 2018, a recently unsealed indictment stated.
Unsealed last month, the indictment alleges Alan Francisco Herrera, 22, allegedly purchased two rifles in December 2018 from a licensed firearms dealer, stating that he was the sole purchaser and intended owner of the firearms.
Instead, the government alleges in the indictment that Herrera lied about the intended owner of the weapons, “when in truth and fact (Herrera) knew that those statements and representations were false and that (Herrera) was not the actual buyer of the firearms,” the court record shows.
According to the government, Herrera filled out the form at an Academy Sports and Outdoors in McAllen on Dec. 14, 2018, for two Century Arms RAS47 semi-automatic rifles.
On March 27, Herrera appeared for a detention and bond hearing related to the firearms charge, but the court at the time denied him a bond, records show.
At the time, the court requested Herrera’s counsel make assurances that Herrera will not be placed in state custody if he would be released on bond, and other assurances related to where he would reside.
Herrera was also arrested in August and early December 2018, both times for evading and resisting arrest, county records show.
He is scheduled for a follow-up detention hearing, where Herrera’s attorney will make arguments to persuade the court to release the 22-year-old man on bond.
