A U.S. Magistrate Judge recently arraigned two men living in Barrow County on federal firearm and drug charges.
A federal grand jury indicted Miguel Angel Rosas-Ramirez, 24, of Mexico and Eduardo Estrada Medina, 28, of Guatemala, on June 27, according to a media release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. The two were arraigned before Judge J. Clay Fuller.
Rosas-Ramirez lived in Statham. Medina, aka Miguel Angel Donis-Gonzalez, resided in Winder, according to the release.
Rosas-Ramirez allegedly obtained a Georgia Weapons Carry Permit by falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen. The indictment alleges he used the permit to illegally buy over 100 guns in the past year. Rosas-Ramirez allegedly sold the guns to others, including Medina, according to the release.
"Guns are an all-too-frequent part of the illegal drug business, and the majority of these guns arrive in drug dealers’ hands from illegal firearm trafficking as alleged in this case,” U.S. Attorney John Horn said.
The indictment alleges Medina illegally entered the U.S., bought several firearms from Rosas-Ramirez and trafficked drugs, according to federal prosecutors. He allegedly possessed 8.8. kilograms of suspected methamphetamine and more than $140,000 cash.
"This case is even more troubling because one of the alleged gun purchasers (Medina) already had been deported once as a result of illegal drug trafficking, and yet found his way back to the United States and to the dangerous combination of methamphetamine and guns," Horn said.
Medina's earlier deportation was in 2013.
Medina is charged with unlawful possession of firearms by an alien, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking activity, possession of an unregistered silencer and unlawful possession of firearms by a felon.
Rosas-Ramirez has been charged with unlawful possession of firearms by an alien, unlawful dealing in firearms, unlawful claim to U.S. citizenship and 18 counts of fraudulent statements to licensed gun dealers in connection with firearms purchases.
In addition to Medina, prosecutors allege several of the 100 firearms Rosas-Ramirez bought and sold have been recovered from other illegal aliens who were trafficking drugs.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is investigating the case.
"Criminals must understand that there are serious repercussions for illegal trafficking of narcotics and illegal possession of firearms and that ATF will contribute all necessary time and effort to ensure that the individuals responsible are brought to justice," Assistant Special Agent in Charge John Schmidt said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Keen is prosecuting the case.
