Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Feds Charge Valley Men With Having Machine Guns
GV-Wire-1
By gvwire
Published 5 years ago on
November 23, 2019

Share

The FBI, its federal partners, and local law enforcement units continue their crackdown on Valley residents with machine guns.
On Thursday, the Department of Justice charged Eric Lopez Mercado, 25, of Lemoore, and Jose Moreno, 24 of Hanford, with illegally possessing and transferring machine guns.

Charges Arise from Nuestra Familia Investigation

This case stems from a multi-agency investigation into the criminal activities of individuals associated with the Nuestra Familia prison gang. The probe has produced the arrests of more than 50 individuals on federal and state charges.
The indictment charges Mercado and Moreno with possessing several pistols that had no serial number markings but had conversion devices attached to the rear of the firearms that enabled them to function as fully automatic weapons.
A federal statute defines “machine gun” as “any weapon which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot, automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger.”

Potential 10-Year Prison Sentences

Both men were also charged with transferring a machine gun to another person and possessing a device capable of converting a handgun into a machine gun.
If convicted, Mercado and Moreno face a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

DON'T MISS

From Blue Cheese to Bacon: Peanut Butter Pairings That Will Shock You

DON'T MISS

Challengers Seek Seats on Tulare County Irrigation District Boards

DON'T MISS

Shy Pup Finds Hope with Foster Family, Evasion from Euthanasia

DON'T MISS

Does Dill Have Magical Powers? What People Once Believed Food Could Do

DON'T MISS

Let’s Keep Innovative Partnerships Crucial to Combating Climate Change: Fresno Dairy Manager

DON'T MISS

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

DON'T MISS

Two-Time Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Opts Out of Contract with Giants

DON'T MISS

No Matter the Outcome, We Are the True Losers of This Election

DON'T MISS

Russia’s Swift March Forward in Ukraine’s East

DON'T MISS

Rapper Young Thug Is a Free Man. Here Are Things to Know About His Plea.

UP NEXT

Shy Pup Finds Hope with Foster Family, Evasion from Euthanasia

UP NEXT

AMOR Wellness Trunk-or-Treat Brings 700 Mendota Residents Together for Halloween Fun

UP NEXT

What Kind of Trouble Is Miguel Arias Trying to Stir Up This Time?

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Shot to Death at NW Apartment Complex Is Identified

UP NEXT

SJV Water Founder Lois Henry Receives Prestigious Reporting Award

UP NEXT

Visalia Rollerblader Suffered Major Injuries After Being Struck by Vehicle

UP NEXT

Local Candidates Make Final Pitches at Fresno Hispanic Foundation Event

UP NEXT

Fresno County Man Indicted for Possessing Stolen Guns

UP NEXT

MAGA Hats OK at Polls, but Electioneering Is Strictly Prohibited

UP NEXT

Bulldogs’ DB Cam Lockridge Is Ballin’ Out, Has Sights Set On NFL

Does Dill Have Magical Powers? What People Once Believed Food Could Do

7 hours ago

Let’s Keep Innovative Partnerships Crucial to Combating Climate Change: Fresno Dairy Manager

8 hours ago

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

20 hours ago

Two-Time Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Opts Out of Contract with Giants

20 hours ago

No Matter the Outcome, We Are the True Losers of This Election

21 hours ago

Russia’s Swift March Forward in Ukraine’s East

21 hours ago

Rapper Young Thug Is a Free Man. Here Are Things to Know About His Plea.

21 hours ago

AMOR Wellness Trunk-or-Treat Brings 700 Mendota Residents Together for Halloween Fun

21 hours ago

What Kind of Trouble Is Miguel Arias Trying to Stir Up This Time?

21 hours ago

MrBeast Probe Ends With Some Employees Fired but Finds No Proof of Sexual Misconduct Allegations

22 hours ago

From Blue Cheese to Bacon: Peanut Butter Pairings That Will Shock You

Peanut butter is a childhood staple for many in the United States. Whether it’s a classic PB&J sandwich, a fluffernutter, cookies ...

6 hours ago

6 hours ago

From Blue Cheese to Bacon: Peanut Butter Pairings That Will Shock You

6 hours ago

Challengers Seek Seats on Tulare County Irrigation District Boards

6 hours ago

Shy Pup Finds Hope with Foster Family, Evasion from Euthanasia

7 hours ago

Does Dill Have Magical Powers? What People Once Believed Food Could Do

8 hours ago

Let’s Keep Innovative Partnerships Crucial to Combating Climate Change: Fresno Dairy Manager

20 hours ago

Immediate Threat: Mussel Invades California’s Delta, First Time in North America

20 hours ago

Two-Time Cy Young Winner Blake Snell Opts Out of Contract with Giants

21 hours ago

No Matter the Outcome, We Are the True Losers of This Election

Search

Send this to a friend