DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Acting United States Attorney Billy J. Williams

District of Oregon

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: GERRI BADDEN

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2015 PHONE: 503-727-1033
WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/OR GERRI.BADDEN@USDOJ.GOV

TWO OREGON MEN INDICTED FEDERALLY

FOR FIREARMS TRAFFICKING TO MEXICO

EUGENE, Ore. The U.S. Attorneys Office announced that a federal grand jury has
indicted two men for their involvement in a scheme to illegally purchase and sell firearms and
smuggle them to Mexico. Those men are Erik Flores Eloretgui, 33 years old, of Beaverton,
Oregon and Robert Allen Cummins, 56 years old, of Eugene, Oregon. Defendant Cummins
appeared today on a summons before Magistrate Judge Thomas M. Coffin , who ordered
Cummins to return to court on October 5, 2015, for a hearing on release conditions and detention
status.

The indictment is the result of a year-long investigation and international collaboration

that began after a large shipment of firearms was found in Sonora, Mexico. According to the
indictment, members of the conspiracy deposited tens of thousands of dollars near the
U.S./Mexico border to bank accounts associated with Erik Flores Elortegui. Defendants then
allegedly straw-purchased over $70,000 dollars worth of high-caliber firearms, including .50
caliber and AK-47 type rifles, some of which were recovered in Mexico soon after being
purchased.

The indictment further alleges that on the same day as a $38,100 firearms purchase in
Oregon City involving three .50 caliber rifles, Erik Flores Eloretegui purchased a Dremel
grinding tool commonly used by firearms traffickers to grind off firearms serial numbers
and a few days thereafter drove from Oregon and crossed into Mexicali, Mexico.

In announcing the indictment, Acting U. S. Attorney Billy J. Williams said, Those who
illegally deal and smuggle firearms share responsibility for the violence those firearms promote.
This case serves to put firearms traffickers, and anyone who illegally buys or sells firearms, on
notice that they will be held accountable for violating laws designed to keep firearms out of the
hands of criminals and to assure the safety of citizens both here and abroad.

Summary of the Charges

Count 1: conspiracy to smuggle firearms from the United States to Mexico and
making false statements in connection with the acquisition of firearms, which
carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine.

Counts 2 through 13: making false statements in connection with the acquisition
of firearms each of those charges carries a maximum sentence of five years in
prison and up to a $250,000 fine.

1
 Counts 14 through 25: illegal smuggling of goods from the United States each
of those charges carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison and up to a $250,000
fine.

Count 26: unlawful dealing in firearms, which carries a maximum sentence of five years
in prison and up to a $250,000 fine.

An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant should be presumed

innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives and the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant
U.S. Attorney Nathan J. Lichvarcik.

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