Edson Aregullin has been sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison for unlawfully purchasing firearms intended for transport from Georgia to Mexico. U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg commented on the case, stating, "Illegal firearms trafficking wreaks havoc in communities within and outside our district. We are proud to stand alongside our federal law enforcement partners in helping to stem the unlawful flow of firearms to criminals."
Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), added, "Every illegal firearm that crosses our border becomes a weapon of destruction in the wrong hands. ATF is committed to shutting down these criminal pipelines with precision and force. Our communities – here and abroad – deserve nothing less."
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, Edson Aregullin conspired with individuals in Mexico to purchase over 150 firearms from various dealers in Northern Georgia, including 9mm pistols and AR-style rifles. Aregullin received instructions on which makes and models to buy and used funds from a buyer in Mexico to facilitate their transportation.
The illegally purchased firearms were linked to violent crimes. Notably, a .223 caliber rifle bought by Aregullin was recovered by law enforcement officers in Guanajuato, Mexico after it was used during a deadly encounter involving municipal police that resulted in eight deaths and four injuries.
On May 22, 2025, United States District Judge Steven D. Grimberg sentenced Edson Aregullin, aged 47 and a Mexican national who previously resided in Atlanta, Georgia, to 71 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. On November 19, 2024, Aregullin pled guilty to charges including Conspiracy to Traffic in Firearms.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Gabay-Smith.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aiming to reduce violent crime through community engagement and strategic enforcement priorities.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6280. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.