FEDERAL JUDGE KEEPS DEFENDANT IN ALLEGED CARTEL FIREARMS CASE IN CUSTODY AS RECORDS LIST 170 SEIZED GUNS

FEDERAL JUDGE KEEPS DEFENDANT IN ALLEGED CARTEL FIREARMS CASE IN CUSTODY AS RECORDS LIST 170 SEIZED GUNS

A federal judge in Amarillo has ordered Omar Velasquez held while a 12 count case involving alleged firearms trafficking to the Sinaloa cartel proceeds. A newly filed bill of particulars lists about 170 seized firearms, including roughly 95 rifles, 55 semiautomatic pistols, 10 revolvers, 5 shotguns and 2 machine guns. Velasquez is one of 4 defendants named in the June indictment. Court records say he crossed from Mexico into the United States at least 27 times between January 2025 and March 2026 using 9 vehicles. Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk revoked an earlier California release order, citing flight risk and danger. The case is pending in federal court. Velasquez and the other defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

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