Marcos Daniel Jiménez, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Julie Torres, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and Jesus Torres, Special Agent in Charge, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, announced today that defendant, Joseph Ruiz, the owner and operator of a Miami area gun shop, was arrested on September 28, 2004, on a criminal complaint, charging him with conspiring to export arms to South America, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, Title 22, United States Code, Section 2778, and Title 22, C.F.R., Sections 121.1, 123.1, and 127.1.

This arrest stems from an investigation that led to the Indictment of six (6) other defendants, Rafael Samper, Edgar Semprun, Antonio Tarrab, Raul Gomez DeMolina, Bilmer Paz, and Rodney Sharp, on similar charges. As part of this investigation, federal agents have seized more than 700,000 rounds of ammunition, more than 200 weapons, and tools and parts necessary for the building of many more automatic weapons. The investigation has revealed that the organization, in which Ruiz participated, as alleged in the criminal complaint, has been for several years in the business of purchasing and selling firearms and ammunition for profit in the United States and then arranging for their illegal export by sea to Venezuela. The weapons and ammunition are sold for profit to the highest bidders, usually in Venezuela and Colombia. The investigation also has revealed that many of the weapons and ammunition purchases were made by buyers and suppliers acting on behalf of the Colombian FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolutionaries de Colombia) and the Colombian Paramilitary Group, AUC (Auto Defensas Unidas de Colombia). Both of these groups have been designated by the U.S. State Department as terrorist organizations.

Ruiz is the owner and operator of Dade County Guns & Ammo, Inc., a federally licensed firearms dealer located in Miami, Florida. As alleged in the criminal complaint, Ruiz used his business to supply many of the weapons and rounds of ammunition purchased and sold by the organization.

If convicted of conspiring to violate the Arms Export Control Act and of the substantive charge of violating that statute, Ruiz would face a statutory maximum sentence of five (5) years’ imprisonment and ten (10) years’ imprisonment on each charge, respectively, and up to $1 million in fines.

Mr. Jiménez commended the investigative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Melissa Damian.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

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