Gun Trafficking Charges Filed Against Father and Son in Oklahoma
Federal agents in Tulsa have charged a Mexican national living illegally in the U.S. and his son, a Houston resident, with trafficking more than 75 firearms along with a significant quantity of ammunition bought at a local gun show. This followed a comprehensive investigation by multiple agencies, including ICE, the ATF, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
The individuals involved are 48-year-old Andres Avila, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, and his 22-year-old son, Anthony Avila, a U.S. citizen. They have been charged with gun trafficking and acquiring ammunition at a gun show in the Tulsa area. Officials also accused the father of being an illegal alien found in possession of firearms and ammunition, as confirmed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Travis Picard, the Special Agent in Charge of HSI Dallas, remarked, “Often, illegally trafficked firearms are found in the hands of dangerous groups such as drug cartels or terrorists. By collaborating with our partners to identify this scheme and seize these weapons, we managed to halt a potential influx of illegal arms that could have led to chaos or violence.”
According to officials, federal agents watched the father and son engaging in activities suggesting they might be involved in “straw purchases” and “gun trafficking.” Court documents revealed they made cash purchases from a private seller without undergoing background checks.
Agents observed multiple transactions over several hours before the two left the gun show in a vehicle registered in Texas. Oklahoma Highway Patrol subsequently conducted a traffic stop, during which officers noticed a substantial amount of ammunition that had ostensibly been acquired from the gun show. A records check by ICE showed that the father was an illegal resident and barred from owning firearms.
Investigators also spoke with a dealer at the firearms exhibit where the guns purchased by the Avilas were kept in tote bags. They found over 75 firearms in the dealer’s possession, with the vendors stating they had met both Andres and Anthony through a Texas pawn shop.
