Miami Courant

On November 20, a federal jury found Gabriel Donato-Mendez, a 48-year-old resident of Port St. Lucie, Florida, guilty of conspiracy to export United States defense articles and attempted smuggling of such items.

The charges stem from activities between 2018 and 2019 when Donato-Mendez purchased over 150 AR-15 "kits." These kits contained the components necessary to assemble AR-15 firearms with minor modifications. On March 4, 2019, he transported at least 84 AR-15 kits from Daytona, Florida, to a freight forwarder for export to Costa Rica. During that period, AR-15s and their parts were classified as "defense articles" on the United States Munitions List. Exporting them required a license from the Department of State's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls. Neither Donato-Mendez nor his known associates had such a license.

Donato-Mendez is scheduled for sentencing on February 7, 2025, before Chief U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga. He faces up to ten years in prison for attempted smuggling and five years for conspiracy. The court will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors in determining his sentence.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami; and Special Agent in Charge Christopher A. Robinson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division.

The investigation was conducted by HSI Miami, HSI Fort Pierce, and ATF Fort Pierce with significant assistance from the Costa Rican Organismo de Investigación Judicial (National Judicial Police) and U.S. Department of State Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC).

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Rosenfeld and Stefan Diaz Espinosa are prosecuting the case while Assistant U.S. Attorney Annika Miranda handles asset forfeiture matters.

Further details can be accessed through related court documents available on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida or via PACER under case number 24-cr-20075.