ATF Undercover Operation Recovers 6 Firearms, including Machine Gun. 2 arrests, 1 WANTED. Bellflower, Norwalk



If they are convicted of all counts in the indictment, They would face a statutory maximum penalty of 40 years in federal prison.According to court documents, the ATF investigation began in May 2010 and targeted several individuals who were illegally selling firearms.



During the course of the investigation, six firearms were purchased, including a machine gun, a sawed-off shotgun, and a stolen .50-caliber handgun. ATF undercover agents and a confidential informant working on behalf of ATF were able to infiltrate a group of criminals that were selling illegal firearms in Bellflower and Norwalk.



The following two defendants were arrested Wednesday morning (May 23, 2012) after being named in a federal criminal indictment. The third defendant, Gerardo Perez, was not located and a warrant was issued for his arrest.



Francisco Jimenez, 22, of Bell Gardens;



David Martinez, 28, of Norwalk; and



Gerardo Perez, 27, of Bellflower (fugitive).