Lake County Man Arrested For Firearms Trafficking

Ocala, Florida -United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest of Jose G. Medina (48, Leesburg) on a criminal complaint charging him with one count of knowingly making a materially false statement in connection with the acquisition of a firearm, and one count of causing a Federal Firearm Licensee (FFL) to maintain false information in its official records. If convicted, Medina faces a maximum of 15 years' imprisonment-10 years on the materially false statement offense and 5 years on the record-keeping offense.

According to the complaint, between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023, Medina purchased multiple firearms in the Middle District of Florida for other individuals. Some of these firearms were intercepted by the United States Custom and Border Protection (CBP) as other individuals attempted to transport them across the United States' border into Mexico.

On May 27, 2023, an individual was encountered by CBP as he attempted to make entry into Mexico at the Eagle Pass (Texas) Port of Entry. He was attempting to bring 10 handguns, 9 rifles, 7 shotguns, 20 magazines, and large amounts of assorted ammunition into Mexico. The individual stated that he was traveling from Orlando, Florida, to San Diego de la Union, Guanajuato, Mexico-an area where Mexican cartels are fighting for control of the territory. Medina had purchased one of these recovered firearms only nine days prior.

On November 17, 2023, CBP officers stopped another individual at the Eagle Pass (Texas) Port of Entry who also was attempting to bring five firearms to Mexico. Medina had purchased two of these firearms less than two weeks before their recovery by CBP.

A record check by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, firearms, and Explosives (ATF) showed that between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023, Medina had purchased 82 firearms for a total of $42,085.61-an amount that exceeded his reported annual income. The investigation also revealed that another firearm purchased by a person associated with Medina had recently been recovered and electronically traced by Mexican law enforcement using ATF's e-Trace system.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a federal criminal offense. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.

This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Eustis Police Department, and the Lake County Sheriff's Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.

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.