Weslaco man gets to 10 years for child porn, straw purchasing guns

A 37-year-old firearms trafficker will spend a decade in prison for straw purchasing weapons from 2016 through 2022 and for possession of child sexual abuse material.

Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane sentenced Weslaco resident Jose Angel Hinojosa Jr. last Thursday. He pleaded guilty on Jan. 19.

Hinojosa engaged in firearms dealing from June 5, 2016 to May 9, 2022 by straw purchasing guns from an online firearms broker, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas said in a news release.

“He then arranged for the weapons to be exported into Mexico,” the release stated. “Law enforcement was able to locate several of the weapons tied to Hinojosa.”

Hinojosa admitted to trying to smuggle more than 40 guns.

During the gun trafficking investigation, authorities learned that Hinojosa might be linked to crimes involving child sexual abuse material.

“A search warrant was executed and authorities discovered several videos of minors engaging in sexual conduct on Hinojosa’s phone,” the release stated. “Hinojosa admitted to receiving child pornography on his cellphone from various third parties.”

During the sentencing hearing, the court heard evidence how cases like this are far from victimless, with weapons being traced to Mexico.

“In handing down the sentence, the court emphasized the seriousness of these crimes, describing them as heinous and reaffirming that they have real victims and far-reaching consequences,” the release stated.

Hinojosa was allowed to remain on bond and was ordered to surrender to a Bureau of Prisons facility on Jan. 7.

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