Mission man caught with trunk full of firearms, ammo

Posted

A Mission man was arrested and taken to Gonzales County Jail last week after sheriff’s deputies said they caught him with a cache of firearms and ammunition.

On July 23, a Gonzales County sheriff’s deputy stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation on U.S. Highway 80 near Leesville, GCSO Lt. Matt Atkinson said. After identifying the driver as Pablo Gonzales, 25, of Mission, the deputy became suspicious and asked Gonzales’s consent to search the vehicle, which Gonzales granted. A check of Gonzales’s criminal history showed him to be a convicted felon, and therefore ineligible to possess a firearm of any kind.

The search led to the discovery of 14 high-powered assault rifles located in the trunk.  Approximately 30 magazines and clips — some fully-loaded — along with more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, were also found in the vehicle.  

Deputies contacted the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) as well as the Department of Homeland Security in San Antonio, who sent a response team to assist.  Gonzales was released to ATF’s custody. Agents said Gonzales is facing numerous federal firearms charges.  The firearms and ammunition were seized as evidence and turned over to the ATF.

“This was a job well done by the deputy,” said GCSO Chief Investigator Matt Atkinson. “This is exactly what proactive highway interdiction can accomplish; and this undoubtedly saved many lives in Mexico, and potentially here in Texas.”

Comments