The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona stated Wednesday that fourteen people had been accused of allegedly conspiring to make false claims while purchasing firearms, including high-powered rifles.
According to the agency, the 20-count indictment, unsealed Wednesday, accuses David Moreno Quevedo, 26, of El Mirage, of orchestrating the purchase of several belt-fed rifles and Barrett .50 caliber semi-automatic weapons between July 15 and December 23, 2023.
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According to the office, 13 people reportedly acted as straw purchasers, falsely claiming on federal ATF Form 4473 that they were purchasing the firearms for personal use.
The office designated the following people as co-defendants:
- Mario Alberto Ayala Jr., 23, of Maricopa
- Randy Obed Valenzuela Chinchillas, 24, of Phoenix
- Aidee Espinoza, 29, of Phoenix
- Todd Robert Nuttall, 52, of Gilbert
- Earl Marlow Burch, 49, of Mesa
- Jorge Luis Roman, 28, of Mesa
- Wyatt Michael Fernandez, 26, of Tempe
- Dylan Morgan Burch, 21, of Eloy
- Shawna Marie O’Shea, 56, of Tempe
- Damaris Davila Moreno, 22, of Phoenix
- Noelia Valenzuela Gomez, 25, of Chandler
- Melissa Osorio Talamante, 31, of San Tan Valley
- Michael Andrew Wingate, 31, of Mesa
According to the office, the guns were bought from licensed dealers in Phoenix and Yuma.
According to the office, a conspiracy conviction carries up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
A conviction for making a materially false statement during a handgun transaction carries a possible 10-year sentence, a $250,000 fine, or both, according to the office.
The agency noted that an indictment is only an allegation and that all defendants are assumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
