DEL RIO, Texas — A federal jury has convicted a Central Texas man accused of trafficking dozens of firearms to a Mexican cartel, federal officials announced.

Justin R. Simmons said Bobby Brandon Galvan, 30, of Dale, Texas, was found guilty on two counts related to firearms trafficking following a trial in Del Rio.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Galvan was affiliated with La Nueva Familia Michoacana (LNFM) and participated in a larger criminal conspiracy to supply weapons to cartel members. Prosecutors said Galvan straw purchased at least 24 AK-47-style rifles between September 2023 and April 2024, which were later trafficked to Toluca, Mexico.

Authorities said Galvan attempted to obliterate serial numbers on the firearms before transferring them to co-conspirators, who smuggled the weapons across the border. One of the rifles was later recovered after being used in a shootout between cartel members and Mexican law enforcement.

Federal officials identified leaders of the broader conspiracy as Johnny Hurtado Olascoaga, known as “El Pez,” and Jose Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga, known as “El Fresa.”

The cartel was formally designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity by the U.S. Department of State on Feb. 20, 2025.

The investigation, led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, is part of a wider case involving 26 defendants charged with crimes ranging from firearms trafficking to money laundering and illegal alien smuggling. Officials said 18 co-defendants have already pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

Galvan was arrested July 29, 2025, and indicted Aug. 20. He now faces up to 40 years in federal prison on each count. The case is being presided over by Chief U.S. District Judge Alia Moses.

“This trial is significant in that, not only did it trace two dozen rifles from a Texas town to a Mexican cartel, but it is one of the first trials in the nation to involve a conspiracy to traffic firearms under the relatively new firearms trafficking statute,” Simmons said. “I want to extend my congratulations and gratitude to our federal prosecutors and all of our law enforcement partners who contributed to this well-deserved result. I also want to thank the members of the jury for fulfilling their honorable duty as Americans. Let this verdict show that the Western District of Texas and the American People will not stand idly by and allow anyone to arm our adversaries in violation of federal law."

Michael Weddel said the case highlights the ongoing threat posed by illegal gun trafficking.

“This conviction underscores ATF and our law enforcement partners’ unwavering commitment to stopping the flow of illegal firearms from our communities into the hands of violent cartel organizations,” Weddel said. “The defendant’s actions directly fueled armed violence in Mexico, and we will not allow our communities to be exploited as a source of weapons for transnational criminal groups.”

John A. Pasciucco added that the case reflects coordinated federal enforcement efforts.

“Homeland Security Investigations is committed to dismantling the networks that supply weapons to violent transnational criminal organizations,” Pasciucco said. “This conviction demonstrates the impact of coordinated federal law enforcement efforts to disrupt the flow of firearms fueling cartel violence in Mexico.”

Alex Doran emphasized the importance of interagency collaboration.

“I would like to highlight the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ critical role in our Homeland Security Task Force efforts, bringing specialized expertise to the firearms trafficking component of this case,” Doran said. “Through the HSTF framework, and working alongside FBI Kansas City, FBI’s Legal Attaché Office in Mexico City, and Homeland Security Investigations, we leveraged actionable intelligence and combined our respective expertise to disrupt weapons trafficking networks tied to La Nueva Familia Michoacana.”

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Warsame Galaydh and Brett Miner prosecuted the case. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled.