Convicted Felon Sentenced to 66 Months for Smuggling Ammunition

Luis Carlos Eriksen, 56, of Nogales, Arizona, was sentenced August 3, 2022, by United States District Judge James A. Soto to 66 months in prison for Smuggling Ammunition from the United States into Mexico and Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon.

On May 20, 2020, Eriksen drove from Mexico to Phoenix, where he purchased 4,000 rounds of 7.62 x 39 ammunition, and 1,000 rounds of .38 Super ammunition from an ammunition retailer. After loading the ammunition into his vehicle, he began driving back to Mexico.

He was stopped by an Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) officer, who discovered the ammunition in his vehicle. Eriksen admitted that he had entered into an agreement with individuals in Mexico to obtain bulk ammunition in the United States and smuggle it into Mexico for payment. Eriksen has prior convictions for drug trafficking offenses and is prohibited from possessing ammunition.