California Man Pleads Guilty to Selling Illegal Firearms and Methamphetamine Over the Internet

23-year-old Angelo Chavez of Manteca, California, admits guilt in federal court for a scheme involving the sale of narcotics and firearms, including fully automatic machine guns, to undercover agents in New Jersey.

NEWARK, N.J. - U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today that a California man, Angelo Chavez, 23, admitted to conspiring to unlawfully sell firearms and methamphetamine via the Internet.

Who: Angelo Chavez, 23, of Manteca, California, and several unnamed conspirators.

What: Conspiring to unlawfully deal in firearms and distribute methamphetamine via the internet. He pleaded guilty to one count each of the mentioned charges.

When: Chavez and his conspirators operated from August 2020 through December 2021. Sentencing is scheduled for December 21, 2023.

Where: Transactions were conducted over a social media platform, and the firearms and drugs were mailed from California to New Jersey.

Why: Details regarding motivation were not provided in the court documents or statements.

How: The scheme involved advertising narcotics and firearms for sale on a social media platform. Undercover law enforcement agents then purchased the items, which were paid for mostly in cryptocurrency.

Starting in August 2020, undercover law enforcement agents began communicating with Chavez and his conspirators on a social media platform where they advertised various narcotics and firearms for sale. From August 2020 and December 2021, undercover agents purchased 13 firearms from Chavez and his conspirators, including six AR-15 firearms, two of which were shipped with auto sear switches enabling them to function as fully automatic machine guns. Additionally, undercover agents purchased methamphetamine from Chavez and his associates.

The charges brought against Chavez carry significant penalties. The conspiracy to unlawfully deal in firearms charge could result in up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000, while the conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine charge carries a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of $1 million.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited the successful investigation to postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark, under the direction of Postal Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen, Philadelphia Division, and special agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Vera Varshavsky of the U.S. Attorney’s Criminal Division in Newark represents the government in this case.

The case stands as a strong reminder of the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat illegal online sales of firearms and narcotics, and the severity of penalties awaiting those who engage in such activities.