California and Pennsylvania Residents Indicted in Firearm Trafficking Scheme

Federal prosecutors in the Middle District of Pennsylvania have unsealed an indictment charging three individuals from California and Pennsylvania with a series of firearm-related offenses. The charges stem from an alleged conspiracy to illegally deal in firearms, facilitate out-of-state transfers, and commit fraud during firearm purchases over a period spanning from late 2023 to early 2025. The investigation, led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), aims to disrupt illicit firearm trafficking networks.

According to the indictment, David Eliezer Pagan, 39, of Vallejo, California, is accused of orchestrating a scheme that involved transferring funds to two Pennsylvania residents, Ramon Antonio Pagan-Acosta, 30, and Florivette Santiago-Rivera, 29, both of York, Pennsylvania. These alleged Cash App transfers, totaling approximately 19,024 and ranging from 120 to $2,000 per transaction, were purportedly made to facilitate the illegal acquisition of firearms. The indictment further details that Pagan-Acosta allegedly purchased around 33 firearms from licensed dealers in several Pennsylvania counties, including Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, and York. Santiago-Rivera is accused of purchasing six firearms through similar means.

The indictment alleges that both Pagan-Acosta and Santiago-Rivera misrepresented themselves on official ATF Forms 4473, the standard documentation for firearm purchases, by falsely identifying themselves as the true buyers or recipients of the weapons. This practice, known as straw purchasing, is a critical element in illegal firearm trafficking, allowing individuals who are legally prohibited from owning firearms to acquire them through intermediaries. Furthermore, Pagan-Acosta is accused of shipping at least five packages containing firearms from Pennsylvania to Pagan in California. These shipments were allegedly made under the name of an individual who did not reside at the designated shipping address, further obscuring the illicit nature of the transactions.

In addition to the conspiracy to deal firearms without a license and the alleged false statements made during purchases, Pagan and Pagan-Acosta face charges for conspiracy to straw purchase firearms and conspiracy to traffic firearms. All three defendants are collectively charged with making false statements during the purchase of a firearm. The potential penalties for Pagan and Pagan-Acosta are significant, with a maximum of 50 years of imprisonment, followed by a term of supervised release, a fine, and a special assessment. Santiago-Rivera faces a maximum of 15 years of imprisonment, also subject to supervised release, fines, and a special assessment. It is important to note that indictments contain allegations, and all individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Pennsylvania.

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