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Mexican citizen indicted for attempting to illegally ship weapons from Stark County to Texas

Brian Isael Velaquez-Mata was trying to send eight firearms, body armor, and ammunition to the southwest border
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CLEVELAND — A Mexican citizen living in Massillon has been indicted after illegally attempting to send weapons from Stark County to Laredo, Texas. 

Brian Isael Velazquez-Mata attempted to ship two packages containing eight firearms, body armor and ammunition from the UPS store on Fulton Drive. The 24-year-old was indicted on one count of delivery of firearms and ammunition to common carrier without written notice for transportation or shipment in interstate commerce to unlicensed person.

According to the indictment, Velazquez-Mata's package contained a Windham .308-caliber rifle; a Century Arms 7.62 x 39 mm rifle; a Smith & Wesson M&P-15 rifle; a Windham .223/5.56-caliber rifle; a Smith & Wesson 9 mm pistol; a Smith & Wesson 40-caliber pistol; a Smith & Wesson 9 mm pistol; a Glock .40-caliber pistol and ammunition.

“This defendant attempted to illegally send an arsenal, as well as body armor and ammunition, from Canton to the southwest border,” said U.S. Attorney Justin E. Herdman in a statement. “Law enforcement did an excellent job to stop the shipment of these firearms.”

The investigation is ongoing and is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Medway Drug Enforcement Agency.

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