Two men charged in scheme to buy firearms in Texas, take them into Mexico

Two men are accused of trying to buy firearms in Texas to take them into Mexico, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Jorge Alberto Morales-Calvo, 25, of Mexico, and Homero Arteaga Jr., 45, of Mission, Texas, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas Alamdar S. Hamdani announced in a news release Wednesday from Laredo.

Authorities said that in September, Morales-Calvo and Arteaga allegedly went to Zapata, Texas, to buy a .50 caliber rifle and an FN Five-Seven pistol. The charges allege the men were given a bag with $16,850 in counterfeit U.S. currency to buy the guns.

According to the complaint, Morales-Calvo and Arteaga arrived in a black pickup at a predetermined meeting point. Arteaga then inspected the firearms, retrieved the counterfeit money, grabbed the case with the firearms and tried to place it in the truck's bed.

Morales-Calvo then saw law enforcement officers and tried to flee, leaving Arteaga behind. However, both men were quicky apprehended by authorities, the complaint states.

The firearms were to be delivered in Mexico, the charges allege.

Mexico has strict gun ownership laws. The illegal trafficking of firearms into Mexico from the United States helps arm cartels and other criminals in the nation and is a source of tension between the two nations.

If convicted, the men face up to 15 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Arteaga and Morales-Calvo also are charged with felon in possession of a firearm and alien in possession of a firearm, respectively, and face an additional 10 years in federal prison if convicted of those charges.

They remain in custody and are expected to appear soon for arraignment before a U.S. magistrate judge.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with help from the Texas Department of Public Safety and the U.S. Border Patrol.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew P. Hakala-Finch is prosecuting the case.