ARIZONA NEWS

Arizona man sentenced to over 2 years for straw purchasing 82 firearms

Sep 23, 2022, 4:00 PM
(DOMINICK REUTER/AFP via Getty Images)...
(DOMINICK REUTER/AFP via Getty Images)
(DOMINICK REUTER/AFP via Getty Images)

PHOENIX — An Arizona City man was arrested earlier this month for straw purchasing firearms intended for Mexico, authorities said.

From September 2020 until June 2021, 23-year-old Jorge Zuniga-Aguilera purchased at least 82 firearms from Arizona gun stores.

One of the weapons was found as a murder weapon of a citizen in Mexico City, authorities said.

He was sentenced to 27 months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release.

“Border security means protecting our neighbor’s sovereignty,” United States attorney Gary Restaino said in the release.

“When American guns flow south into Mexico, we all lose. Straw purchase prosecutions are an important step in securing the border and protecting communities in both countries.”

The case was a part of the joint federal, state and local Project Safe Neighborhoods Program, a major piece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.

PSN is an program that identifies violent crimes in the community and offers evidence based solutions to stop similar future crimes.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

(ADOT Traffic Camera Photo)...
KTAR.com

Northbound lanes of Loop 303 closed in West Valley after crash

Northbound Loop 303 was closed Friday in the West Valley during the afternoon rush hour due to a crash, officials said.
18 hours ago
(Pexels Photo)...
KTAR.com

17-year-old arrested on murder charges in Peoria crash that killed 5

A 17-year-old boy was arrested and charged with murder in a 2022 crash in Peoria that left five people dead.
18 hours ago
Salvador Gonzalez Duenas (Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Photo)...
KTAR.com

Glendale police arrest Circle K robbery, assault suspect

Glendale police arrested a man suspected of robbing a Circle K convenience store and assaulting a clerk in December, authorities said. 
18 hours ago
(Facebook Photo/Tempe Festival of the Arts)...
KTAR.com

Tempe Festival of the Arts takes over Mill Avenue all weekend

The annual Tempe Festival of the Arts is underway through Sunday in a showcase of over 350 artists from across North America.
18 hours ago
Dominic Daughtrey (Courtesy Silent Witness)...
KTAR.com

Police release new lead in 2022 west Phoenix homicide

39-year-old Dominic Daughtrey was found murdered in his pickup truck in June 2022 police releasing new images of a man they believe may have information increasing reward.
18 hours ago
(Facebook Photo/Chandler Municipal Airport)...
Alex Weiner

Chandler Municipal Airport awarded $300K for weather forecasting, lights

The federal government will grant Chandler Municipal Airport $300,000 to install an automated weather observing system, officials said.
18 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

(Photo: OCD & Anxiety Treatment Center)...

Here’s what you need to know about OCD and where to find help

It's fair to say that most people know what obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders generally are, but there's a lot more information than meets the eye about a mental health diagnosis that affects about one in every 100 adults in the United States.
...
Quantum Fiber

How high-speed fiber internet edges out cable for everyday use

In a world where technology drives so much of our daily lives, a lack of high-speed internet can be a major issue.
(Desert Institute for Spine Care photo)...
DESERT INSTITUTE FOR SPINE CARE

Why DISC is world renowned for back and neck pain treatments

Fifty percent of Americans and 90% of people at least 50 years old have some level of degenerative disc disease.
Arizona man sentenced to over 2 years for straw purchasing 82 firearms