Co-Conspirators Sentenced to Multiple Years in Prison for Possessing Machineguns

PHOENIX, Ariz. - Alfredo Macias, 20, Daniel Alfredo Galvan, 20, both of Phoenix, and Jesus David Vega-Rivera, 26, of Mexico, were sentenced to prison last week by United States District Judge Krissa M. Lanham for Conspiracy to Possess Machineguns. Macias and Vega-River were each sentenced to 51 months in prison, and Galvan was sentenced to 42 months in prison. All three defendants were also sentenced to 36 months of supervised release following their release from prison.

Macias and Galvan negotiated with another person to purchase machineguns, with the intention of trafficking those firearms to Mexico. The parties exchanged text messages depicting the firearms and cash. At the time of the in-person exchange, Vega-Rivera was present with the cash for the machineguns. All three individuals were arrested by ATF agents.

Before handing down the sentence, Judge Lanham explained the seriousness and danger of machineguns being able to fire many rounds in rapid succession and the capability to cause immense injury to multiple people.

Macias pleaded guilty to Possession or Transfer of a Machinegun on July 2, 2024. Galvan pleaded guilty to Possession or Transfer of a Machinegun on June 7, 2024. And Vega-Rivera pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Possess or Transfer a Machinegun on June 7, 2024.

This case was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department's renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney's Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney's Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.

CASE NUMBER: CR-24-00258-PHX-KML
RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-134_Macias

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