Two Los Angeles County men are facing federal charges alleging they used Instagram to sell more than 60 firearms, including unregistered "ghost guns" and machine gun conversion devices known as "Glock switches," officials announced Thursday.
Ivan Quintos, 27, of Azusa, and Salvador Lopez, 24, of Whittier, were charged in Los Angeles federal court with conspiracy and engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Two other defendants from Henderson, Nevada -- Mark Perez, 22, and Zachary Dry, 23 -- were also charged in the case.
Want to get caught up on what's happening in SoCal every weekday afternoon? Click to follow The L.A. Local wherever you get podcasts.
According to the 11-count indictment, from July 2023 to last May, Perez and the other defendants used Instagram to coordinate and sell more than five dozen firearms. Some of the defendants allegedly used Instagram to sell the firearms, which included so-called "ghost guns" and "Glock switches" as well as firearms with obliterated serial numbers and stolen weapons.
The illegal firearm sales occurred in North Hollywood, Las Vegas, and elsewhere, the indictment alleges.
According to the indictment, Perez, Quintos, Lopez, and Dry are not federal firearms licensees and are not permitted to sell firearms. The indictment alleges that Perez is prohibited from possessing firearms due to his 2021 misdemeanor conviction in Nevada for domestic violence, and that Dry is prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions for assault and battery in Nevada in 2023.
Perez also is charged with four counts of being a prohibited person in possession of firearms and ammunition, one count of possessing a firearm with a removed or altered serial number, and one count of possession of a machine gun.
In addition to Perez, Quintos is charged with firearms trafficking and possession of a machine gun, Dry with possessing a firearm as a felon, Quintos with possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, and Lopez with possession of a firearm within a school zone, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Quintos and Dry have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them and await a trial date of Aug. 6. Lopez's arraignment is scheduled for July 9.
If convicted, Perez faces up to 100 years in federal prison, Quintos faces a possible maximum of 35 years, Lopez faces up to 15 years in federal prison, and Dry faces a maximum sentence of 25 years behind bars, prosecutors said.
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
Most Popular
Comments / 0