FIVE FACING FEDERAL CHARGES AFTER MULTI-AGENCY IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT OPERATION, a resident listed in public arrest records, was taken into custody on April 5, 2025, in Featured County, Georgia. According to the official booking report, the arrest was made by local authorities and the subject was charged with the following offense(s): unspecified charges. This incident was officially recorded and made publicly available by law enforcement agencies in the state of Georgia. The details provided reflect the arrest information at the time of booking and do not indicate guilt or conviction. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
FIVE FACING FEDERAL CHARGES AFTER MULTI-AGENCY IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT OPERATION IN GEORGIA
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. – Five individuals have been charged in the Northern District of Georgia with firearms-related offenses following a multi-agency immigration enforcement operation in the metro-Atlanta area over the past week. The operation, which involved coordinated investigations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), also received significant support from local law enforcement agencies. The operation resulted in the seizure of more than a dozen firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. emphasized, “Our office is proud to support our law enforcement partners in this effort to protect our communities and safeguard our national security. This initiative sends a strong message to criminals—whether related to immigration or firearms offenses—that coordinated federal and local efforts will ensure safer communities.”
Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Atlanta, stated, “This operation underscores HSI’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws while targeting individuals involved in firearms trafficking, especially those exploiting the immigration system for criminal activity. By leveraging our partnerships, we are removing threats to public safety and national security.”
Benjamin Gibbons, Special Agent in Charge of ATF, added, “ATF and our law enforcement partners will continue to use all resources to tackle firearms trafficking by transnational criminal organizations. These collaborative efforts are vital to the safety of our communities.”
Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division, said, “Our law enforcement partners are sending a clear message to drug cartels and their associates: keeping our communities safe is our top priority.”
Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Atlanta Division, stated, “FBI Atlanta is committed to ensuring the safety of our communities by supporting our federal partners. This case shows the power of unified resources to fight violent criminals.”
The operation, conducted between March 24 and April 2, 2025, targeted individuals allegedly violating firearms laws and immigration regulations. Investigations revealed that many of the firearms seized were destined for Mexico.
The individuals charged include:
- Lucio Hernandez Mora, 45, of Riverdale, GA, was charged with possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully present in the U.S. On April 1, 2025, authorities seized two firearms from his residence.
- Cameron Vick, 22, of Atlanta, GA, was indicted on nine counts of making false statements to a firearms dealer related to the purchase of firearms, including two belt-fed M249S rifles, believed to be headed to Mexico. Vick was arrested on March 27, 2025.
- Bernice Macias Montes, 31, of Atlanta, GA, was charged with making a false statement to a firearms dealer and had five firearms seized on March 27, 2025.
- Teresa Gonzales-Hoppo, 56, of Lithia Springs, GA, was charged with possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully present in the U.S. On March 27, 2025, authorities seized a firearm from her residence.
- Carlos Sambrano, 28, of Rex, GA, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Seven firearms were found during a search of his home on March 27, 2025.
The defendants have made their initial appearances in court, with hearings taking place between March 27 and April 1, 2025. All are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The operation was carried out by a coalition of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the ATF, DEA, HSI, FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and several Georgia police departments.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative designed to tackle illegal immigration, disrupt transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect U.S. communities from violent crime. The operation involves the David G. Wilhelm Atlanta OCDETF Strike Force, which targets major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations in the metro-Atlanta area.
For further information, contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or call (404) 581-6280. Visit the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia at www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Disclaimer: All data provided here is taken from public arrest records. This publication does not imply guilt or final conviction.
More Arrests in Featured on April 5, 2025
No other arrests found on this date in Featured.
