Mexican national living in Texas illegally sentenced to five years in prison after admitting role in firearms trafficking conspiracy

Sherman, Texas – A Mexican national living in Texas illegally has been sentenced to federal prison after admitting his role in a firearms trafficking operation that investigators say moved weapons out of the United States and into Mexico.

U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs announced that Abigael Colin Saldana, 28, pleaded guilty to trafficking firearms and was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III on January 21, 2026, in the Eastern District of Texas.

Court information showed that the case was not a one-time event or a small mistake. Prosecutors said the trafficking activity stretched back years and was tied to a larger conspiracy that began in 2021. Authorities said Saldana, described as a Mexican national illegally living in Royse City, was involved in a firearms trafficking conspiracy that was responsible for moving firearms from Texas to Mexico.

Firearms Trafficking Scheme Linked to Wider Federal Crackdown

Federal officials described the case as part of a broader enforcement effort under Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative aimed at strengthening federal action against major criminal threats. The operation is designed to use the full resources of the Department of Justice to address illegal immigration issues, target cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent crime.

While court documents focused on Saldana’s role in the trafficking conspiracy, the case also reflects the serious attention federal authorities are placing on illegal firearm pipelines, especially those connected to cross-border crime.

The investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives along with the Texas Department of Public Safety. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson.

With the guilty plea and sentencing now complete, Saldana will serve five years in federal prison, closing one part of a larger effort by law enforcement to stop firearms from being trafficked out of Texas and into Mexico.