Authorities have slapped a total of 45 felony charges on an Arizona man who was recently apprehended for allegedly smuggling firearms and ammunition across state lines.
During his arraignment at the Larson Justice Center in Indio, 22-year-old Phoenix resident Alexis Ayala Molina pleaded not guilty to 29 counts of assault weapon possession, 15 counts of removing or altering firearm identification marks, and one count of manufacturing or transporting an assault weapon, as per court records.
According to Sgt. Cameron James of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, U.S. Border Patrol agents intercepted a vehicle traveling westbound on Monday near Chiriaco Summit. The vehicle’s actions were deemed suspicious and unsafe, prompting the agents to take action.
Agents reportedly found a stash of 29 illegal firearms during the stop, consisting of 27 assault rifles, a bolt-action rifle, and a semiautomatic pistol with various types of ammunition. According to James, 15 of the weapons had destroyed serial numbers.
Authorities have arrested Ayala Molina, the driver who was caught smuggling weapons from Tempe, Arizona into California. The agents were able to identify him and seized the weapons during the operation.
Ayala Molina, with a bail set at $55,000, was detained and booked into the John Benoit Detention Center located in Indio.
If you have any information regarding the incident, please do not hesitate to contact Officer Martinez of the Gang Task Force at 760-836-1600. The investigation is still ongoing and any potential leads could be crucial in bringing the investigation to a close.