Texas Residents Indicted on Terrorism-Related Charges

Federal prosecutors have charged three men and one woman from Amarillo, Texas, with terrorism-related offenses linked to a scheme involving the purchase and smuggling of firearms to Mexico, aimed at supplying the Sinaloa Cartel. This follows the recent designation of the Sinaloa cartel, along with five other Mexican drug organizations, as foreign terrorist entities by the U.S. government.

Although the criminal charges were filed last month, details only emerged this week when a federal judge lifted the seal on the indictments after the arrests of Lloyd Walter Hall, Jesús Quesada Maza, Omar Velasquez, and Caitlin Hall. The indictment, consisting of twelve counts, has revealed an alleged conspiracy among the four to “provide material support” to the Sinaloa Cartel.

Lloyd Hall is thought to be the main figure behind the smuggling operation and faces additional charges related to the manufacturing and distribution of drugs, including fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin, for the cartel.

Caitlin Hall is charged with engaging in “straw purchases,” which involve someone without a criminal record buying firearms on behalf of someone else who cannot legally purchase them. She’s accused of acquiring various guns from sporting goods stores and pawnshops.

Quesada is accused of playing a role in managing the operation and participating in firearms purchases from local pawnshops in Amarillo. Velasquez, meanwhile, stands accused of the actual smuggling of weapons into Mexico. The court filings do not clarify the number of firearms involved, but the indictment indicates that the group’s activity spanned at least from February 2025 until their arrest this week.

In a different initiative, federal authorities in San Antonio have launched a campaign titled “Don’t Lie for Others” aimed at curbing straw gun purchases in that city.