A Mexican citizen living illegally in the United States was indicted Thursday on four federal firearms charges after investigators discovered weapons stolen from a moving train, a machine gun, and nearly $350,000 in cash at a Stanislaus County residence, federal prosecutors said.

Ricardo Landeros, 39, who was residing in Keyes, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, being an undocumented immigrant in possession of a firearm, possessing a machine gun, and possessing an unregistered firearm, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.

The indictment stems from an investigation into a March 28 train burglary in which a pallet containing 100 AR-style pistols was stolen.

According to court documents, a passing train crew spotted several people breaking into a container on a moving train traveling from Stockton to Bakersfield. The stolen firearms were being shipped between Nevada and Indiana.

Investigators also discovered that additional shipping containers had been broken into and ransacked.

During the investigation, federal agents traced a vehicle connected to the train burglary to Landeros’ residence in Stanislaus County.

A search of the property uncovered multiple firearms, including a machine gun, a short-barreled rifle, and several pistols stolen during the train burglary, authorities said.

Agents also recovered merchandise stolen in other cargo thefts and nearly $350,000 in cash. Additional stolen firearms were discovered in an associated storage unit.

Federal prosecutors said Landeros is prohibited from possessing firearms because of his immigration status and a prior felony conviction for possessing a loaded and concealed firearm.

Authorities said he previously had been deported from the United States twice.

If convicted, Landeros faces up to 15 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

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