Nevada man pleads guilty to supplying 140 guns to Mexican cartels

On Friday, Luis Alberto Osorio, a resident of Elko, Nevada, entered a guilty plea in federal court to charges of straw purchasing firearms, trafficking in firearms, harboring certain aliens, and conspiracy to launder money. The plea was announced by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Nevada. Osorio admitted to conspiring with co-defendants between April 2020 and September 2025 to acquire 140 firearms, along with magazines and ammunition, which were intended for sale to individuals affiliated with violent drug-trafficking organizations in Mexico. The weapons included high-caliber and long-range firearms such as the Ohio Ordnance Works M2-SLR .50 BMG, Barrett M82A1 and M107A1 .50 BMG anti-material rifles, FN Herstal M249S 5.56x45mm, and FN Herstal SCAR 17S 7.62x51mm rifles. These are military-style weapons capable of penetrating armored vehicles and inflicting significant damage. Osorio also admitted to employing individuals who were illegally present in the United States at a mining company he operated in Nevada. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Las Vegas, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and other federal, state, and local partners as part of the Homeland Security Task Force, which was established by an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on his first day in office in January 2025. The guilty plea is a result of the task force's efforts to disrupt the flow of weapons and money to cartels. Osorio faces a maximum sentence of 70 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for February 2026. The U.S. Attorney's office emphasized that firearms trafficking networks feed violent cartels that terrorize border communities and pump illicit drugs into neighborhoods. By cutting off this supply chain, law enforcement aims to directly disrupt the operational capabilities of these criminal organizations. The case highlights the ongoing issue of gun trafficking from the United States to Mexico, where strict gun laws make it difficult for cartels to obtain weapons legally. The investigation involved multiple agencies working together to trace the firearms and dismantle the trafficking network. Osorio's plea is a significant step in holding accountable those who supply weapons to criminal organizations. The DEA's special agent in charge noted that guns and drugs go hand-in-hand in organized crime, and the agency will continue to use all resources to address threats posed by drug and firearms trafficking.