Apopka Man Pleads Guilty To Trafficking Firearms

Orlando, Florida - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Yessen Vasquez Tolentino (37, Apopka) has pleaded guilty to one count of smuggling goods from the United States. Vasquez Tolentino faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

According to the plea agreement, Vasquez Tolentino arranged for a freight forwarding company to pick up a refrigerator that he knew contained multiple firearms, firearms parts, and rounds of ammunition concealed inside the refrigerator's main door and freezer door, and to ship the refrigerator to the Dominican Republic.

The defendant agreed to forfeit the 17 firearms, 33 firearms parts, and over 140 rounds of ammunition that were found inside the refrigerator.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diane Hu.

This case is 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 gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.