McAllen Man Sentenced Over Gun Part Exports

Mario Cardenas Jr. received over 5 years in prison for illegally exporting firearm parts to Mexico.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A McAllen, Texas man named Mario Cardenas Jr. has been sentenced to over 5 years in federal prison for illegally exporting firearm parts to Mexico. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in McAllen dismantled a major firearms trafficking ring that Cardenas Jr. was involved in, as authorities say traffickers are increasingly moving gun parts instead of fully assembled weapons to avoid detection.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing challenge of stopping the flow of firearms and gun parts from the U.S. to Mexico, which has fueled cartel violence and organized crime. Federal authorities are focusing enforcement efforts on disrupting these trafficking networks and stemming the export of gun components that can be easily reassembled on the Mexican side of the border.

The details

Cardenas Jr. was sentenced to over 5 years in prison and 3 years of supervised release for illegally exporting firearm parts into Mexico. Investigators say he was a central figure in a broader firearms trafficking ring based in the Rio Grande Valley region. Federal agents are increasingly seeing traffickers shift away from fully assembled guns to just exporting the individual components, making it harder to trace the firearms.

  • On February 10, 2026, Mario Cardenas Jr. was sentenced to over 5 years in prison and 3 years of supervised release.
  • In March 2025, a McAllen court sentenced Oscar Daniel Ramirez Gonzalez to 2 years in prison for a similar firearms export case.

The players

Mario Cardenas Jr.

A McAllen, Texas resident who was sentenced to over 5 years in federal prison for illegally exporting firearm parts to Mexico.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio

The federal agency that dismantled the major firearms trafficking ring that Cardenas Jr. was involved in.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

The federal agency that found more trace requests linked to guns recovered in Mexico, identifying Texas as a leading source state for firearms traced across the border.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

Federal prosecutors and local partners in the Rio Grande Valley are continuing to follow additional leads tied to the same trafficking corridors, officials said.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenge of stopping the flow of firearms and gun parts from the U.S. to Mexico, as traffickers adapt their tactics to avoid detection. Federal authorities are intensifying efforts to disrupt these procurement networks and reduce the supply of weapons fueling cartel violence across the border.