AZMEX EXTRA 31-12-18

AZMEX EXTRA 31 DEC 2018

Note: photos, etc. at link.


Affidavit: Suspects arrested in Laredo for allegedly supplying cartel with firearms, ammo
By César Rodriguez, LMTonline.com /
Laredo Morning Times
Published 8:25 am CST, Monday, December 31, 2018

https://www.lmtonline.com/local/crime/article/Affidavit-Suspects-arrested-in-Laredo-for-13499733.php


Gina Gibeaut-Morales, 20, was charged with conspiracy and attempting to export ammo and magazines. Photo: Webb County Sheriff's Office
Photo: Webb County Sheriff's Office
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Gina Gibeaut-Morales, 20, was charged with conspiracy and attempting to export ammo and magazines.

Two men and a woman were recently arrested in Laredo in connection with an investigation into a gun-trafficking ring that supplied Cartel Del Noreste with high-powered firearms and ammo, authorities said.

Gina Gibeaut-Morales, 20, Juan Jose Garcia-Cruz, 34, and Hector Hugo Olivas, 28, were each charged with conspiracy and attempting to export ammo and magazines.

Earlier this month, former Army Ranger José Joaquín Soto Jr., 36, who has ties to Laredo, was arrested in San Antonio along with three alleged accomplices in connection with the investigation by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security agents.

Their investigation showed that Soto's group spent nearly $130,000 on more than 13,000 AR and AK-style ammunition magazines from an online gun supply store, CDNN Sports, an affidavit states.

READ ALSO: LPD: Alleged cartel and gang member arrested for shoplifting threatened officers

"This investigation has identified another $150,000 spent acquiring over 225 'AR' and 'AK' style rifles, along with .50-caliber rifles, that are believed to have been smuggled through Laredo, Texas, into Mexico to arm a cartel," according to the affidavit.

As part of the investigation, agents said, they saw Soto take firearms-related items to a stash house in Laredo. Border crossing records show that he and various accomplices took many trips south of the border to deliver the weaponry in various vehicles, including some that had the same Mexican license plates, the affidavit said.

On Nov. 30, Homeland Security Investigations special agents initiated surveillance at a storage facility in Laredo. Special agents saw two vehicles, a blue Ford Fusion with Texas license plates and a Chevrolet Suburban with Mexican license plates, arrive at the location and load up multiple boxes and bags into the two vehicles.

Authorities followed the vehicles to the McDonald's at 1120 Santa Ursula Ave., near the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge. Then, special agents said they saw a Chrysler 200 arrive and park next to the Ford and the Chevrolet.

The Ford departed and parked at nearby gas station. Laredo police officers approached the vehicles and identified the drivers.
Gibeaut-Morales, a U.S. citizen, was driving the Fusion. She allegedly allowed Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives special agents to search her vehicle. Special agents said they found multiple boxes of loose ammunition in the trunk of the car.

Garcia-Cruz, a Mexican national, was the driver of the Suburban. He too granted consent to search the Suburban, authorities said. He was allegedly in possession of multiple boxes of loose ammo, garbage bags with magazines and a garbage bag with ballistic helmets.

Olivas, a U.S. citizen, was driving the Chrysler 200. He had nothing in the vehicle. He claimed he had gone to the McDonald's to eat. He further stated to law enforcement that he did not know Garcia-Cruz.

Gibeaut-Morales later agreed to speak with special agents without an attorney present, authorities said. She stated she was being paid $500 to transport "unknown items to an unknown location," the arrest affidavit said. She added that she was taking instructions from another individual.

Garcia-Cruz agreed to speak to authorities without a lawyer present, as well.

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"Garcia-Cruz was told that he owed money to the Cartel and Garcia-Cruz had to work to pay off the debt," the affidavit said.
He stated that he followed the Ford to the storage unit and helped other individuals load up boxes and bags into the cargo area of the Suburban, according to court documents.

Olivas invoked his right to an attorney. When he was told he was being arrested, Olivas asked why. Special agents told him it was because of what was found in the vehicles.

"Olivas asked what was found and (special agents) showed Olivas a picture of one of the boxes of ammunition. Olivas began to cry and stated he thought it was money," the affidavit said.

In total, special agents discovered seven boxes of .223-caliber and 7.62mm ammo in Gibeaut-Morales' vehicle. Authorities said they recovered two more boxes of ammo and a seven garbage bags with magazines from the Suburban. The contraband added up to about 1,000 rounds and about 100 magazines, according to court documents.

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