A Mexican man illegally residing in Garland, who along with his wife and co-conspirator are accused of smuggling ammunition and firearms from Dallas to the Rio Grande Valley, was sentenced to nearly four years in jail.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a news release Monday that a federal judge sentenced Juan Jose Roque, 36, who pleaded guilty in late April to charges of smuggling goods, to 46 months in federal prison.
The court heard additional evidence that Roque was participating in the criminal venture for months before being caught, which entailed buying firearms and ammunition to be exported for his wife who was acting as the leader, according to the release.
“In handing down the sentence, the court noted Roque was an average participant in the venture even though he was acting at the behest of his wife at the time,” the release said.
Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on Roque after he failed to use a turn signal to change lanes on Dec. 17, 2020, according to the document.
During the traffic stop, authorities discovered 13,000 rounds of ammunition and firearms inside Roque’s vehicle, the release said.
The investigation later revealed that Roque worked with his wife Brendalit Hernandez, 44, and co-conspirator Juan Marvin Garcia, 25, who were also both living in Garland illegally, to smuggle the firearms and ammunition into Mexico.
Authorities said in the release that Hernandez was also “romantically involved with Garcia.”
According to the release, Hernandez helped deliver the goods to individuals in Mexico and would instruct Roque to purchase the weapons and ammo, who would then transport the goods with Garcia from Dallas to the Valley and eventually Mexico.
Hernandez pled guilty on July 5 and will be sentenced Sept. 14 while Garcia was previously sentenced to 36 months in prison for his role in the venture.
Roque remains in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility which will be determined in the near future.
