ATF Cautions on 'Straw Purchases' of Guns, Initiates Campaign Against Illegal Firearms in Texas

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Tackling Illegal Gun Sales

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is joining forces with the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) to raise awareness about illegal gun sales, particularly focusing on straw purchases in San Antonio.

The initiative, called the “Don’t Lie for the Other Guy” campaign, aims to educate the public on the dangers associated with straw buyers. These individuals buy firearms for someone else who isn’t legally allowed to do so. Engaging in this practice can lead to serious consequences, including up to 15 years in prison and fines as high as $250,000.

The campaign kicked off at a press conference on Wednesday, featuring ATF Special Agent Michael Wedell, NSSF President and CEO Joe Bartozzi, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas Justin Simmons, alongside local police and sheriff officials.

According to the ATF, many who can’t legally purchase firearms resort to straw buyers, often to avoid background checks or to detach their identities from firearms that may be used for illegal activities. Traffickers frequently enlist several straw buyers to acquire weapons that ultimately reach criminals, gangs, and violent drug cartels.

This issue heightens the risk of violence, particularly along the U.S.-Mexico border, where human and drug trafficking by cartels is a routine concern. San Antonio has been identified as a significant transit point for these cartels, facilitating the smuggling of both drugs and people into the U.S.

The city also serves as a crucial route for transporting weapons and funds from cartel activities into the broader United States. The ATF has been actively investigating gun trafficking in the area, which likely played a role in selecting San Antonio as a focal point for these operations.

For instance, Bobby Brandon Galván, an associate of the La Nueva Familia Michoacana cartel, was convicted in May for his role in illegal straw purchases of numerous AK-47-style rifles that were sent to Mexico. His purchases were made at a well-known gun show near San Antonio, specifically in the San Marcos area.

During an ATF inquiry, it was uncovered that Galván bought 24 AK-47-style firearms between September 2023 and April 2024, all intended for use by cartels in Toluca, Mexico. Notably, one of the weapons he purchased was later involved in a violent encounter with Mexican law enforcement.

In another case, a Texas man received over six years in federal prison in August 2025 for acting as a straw buyer for the Sinaloa cartel. Edgar Raul Moreno was caught in San Antonio after purchasing an M249S, a highly sought-after rifle by the cartel, along with a range of other firearms. Several of these weapons were found in Mexico or California after they were used in criminal activities.

Michael Wedell, the ATF Special Agent in Charge, emphasized the severity of straw purchasing, stating, “It’s a significant federal crime that puts firearms in the hands of those prohibited from having them and fuels violence in communities. Through our collaboration with the Foundation and local law enforcement, we remind everyone that buying a gun for someone who can’t legally own one can have serious legal repercussions.”