Executive Summary
- Jose G. Medina was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for making false statements in connection with firearm acquisitions and causing inaccurate FFL records.
- Medina illegally purchased 82 firearms totaling over $42,000 between January and December 2023, significantly exceeding his income, through a straw purchasing scheme.
- Several of the firearms purchased by Medina were intercepted at the U.S.-Mexico border, with some destined for cartel-affected areas in Mexico.
Laws and Precedent
- Jose G. Medina was sentenced under federal law for knowingly making false statements in connection with firearm acquisitions and causing a Federal Firearm Licensee (FFL) to maintain inaccurate records, specifically engaging in “straw purchasing,” which is the illegal practice of buying firearms for others. This prosecution, falling under the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, highlights the federal government’s enforcement of firearms laws to combat illegal gun trafficking, particularly when weapons are destined for international criminal organizations.
Jose G. Medina, 50, of Leesburg, Florida, was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison on September 29, 2025, for his role in a firearms trafficking scheme. United States District Judge Thomas Patrick Barber delivered the sentence after Medina pleaded guilty on March 5, 2025, to knowingly making false statements in connection with firearm acquisitions and causing a Federal Firearm Licensee (FFL) to maintain inaccurate records.
The Trafficking Operation
Between January 1 and December 31, 2023, Medina illegally purchased 82 firearms from FFLs across the Middle District of Florida. These weapons were acquired on behalf of other individuals, a practice known as straw purchasing, and totaled $42,085.61—an amount that significantly exceeded Medina’s reported annual income.
Investigators discovered that some of these firearms were later intercepted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as individuals attempted to transport them across the U.S. border into Mexico.
Cross-Border Interceptions
One significant incident occurred on May 27, 2023, when CBP officers at the Eagle Pass, Texas, Port of Entry stopped an individual attempting to enter Mexico. This individual was found with 10 handguns, 9 rifles, 7 shotguns, 20 ammunition magazines, and a large quantity of assorted ammunition.
The traveler stated he was en route from Orlando, Florida, to San Diego de la Union, Guanajuato, Mexico—an area known for active cartel conflicts. One of the firearms recovered during this stop had been purchased by Medina just nine days prior.
A second interception took place on November 17, 2023, also at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry, where another individual was found attempting to smuggle five firearms into Mexico. Medina had purchased two of these weapons less than two weeks before their attempted crossing.
Further investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) revealed that another firearm linked to an associate of Medina was electronically traced by Mexican law enforcement, underscoring the international reach of these illegal activities.
Investigation and Prosecution
The case was a collaborative effort involving multiple agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Eustis Police Department, and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson prosecuted the case. This investigation falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide Department of Justice initiative designed to reduce violent crime and gun violence through strategic enforcement and community engagement.
Medina’s sentencing highlights the serious legal consequences for individuals involved in firearms trafficking, particularly when those weapons are destined for international criminal organizations.
