ORLANDO, Fla. – A federal grand jury has indicted Ernesto Vazquez, 23, and Derick Yamir Perez Diaz, 22, both of Orlando, on charges related to a gun trafficking conspiracy.
The indictment, unsealed Tuesday, alleges the pair conspired to traffic over 100 firearms, including machine guns, within the Middle District of Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.
According to the indictment, Vazquez and Perez Diaz acquired firearms from various sources, including private sellers, licensed firearms dealers, and Chinese manufacturers. They conducted many of the illicit transactions in public places, with Perez Diaz often transporting the firearms in trunks to the meeting locations.
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During a search of Vazquez’s residence, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) seized additional evidence related to the alleged conspiracy.
If convicted on all counts, Vazquez and Perez Diaz each face a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. Assistant United States Attorney Tyrie K. Boyer is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that combines all levels of law enforcement with the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence.
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