MAY 20, 2025 |
Photo – I C E Logo – Bigfoot99 file photo
Authorities are searching for the illegal immigrant who was caught transporting thousands of rounds of rifle ammunition through Carbon County after failing to appear in court.
In March, Ricardo Paez-Quinones was allegedly caught with 18,000 rounds of 7.62×51 NATO ammunition in Carbon County. Paez-Quinones is also reported to be an illegal alien from Mexico who has been deported twice in the past. Authorities are searching for the defendant who failed to appear in court last month after being released on an unsecured bond.
On March 12, Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper Nathaniel Philpot was monitoring traffic on Interstate 80, in Carbon County. Court documents show that using his radar speed gun, Trooper Philpot observed a vehicle traveling at 89 miles per hour in a 75 mile an hour zone.
The vehicle exited the interstate at exit 214 at the TA Travel Center south of Rawlins. Trooper Philpot initiated a traffic stop and spotted multiple boxes of high-caliber ammunition in the passenger and rear seat of the vehicle.
The driver, later identified as Ricardo Paez-Quinones, exhibited a poor grasp of the English language and relied on his girlfriend to translate over the phone.
Trooper Philpot asked Paez-Quinones where he obtained the ammunition. The driver responded that he purchased the bullets in Utah so that he and his girlfriend could do target shooting at a gun range. However, Paez-Quinones told the trooper that he did not own a firearm.
The driver allowed Trooper Philpot to conduct a visual inspection of his vehicle but did not consent to a physical search. At that time, a Carbon County Sheriff K-9 Officer arrived at the scene. The police dog alerted to the presence of drugs in the vehicle, giving authorities probable cause to conduct a thorough search.
Officers found 36 boxes of 7.62×51 NATO Precision Made Cartridges, each containing 500 rounds. Additionally, large amounts of cash and a misdemeanor amount of cocaine were discovered in the driver’s possession. Paez-Quinones was placed under arrest.
The following day, March 13th, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Officers obtained a copy of the suspect’s fingerprints from the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office. In a written affidavit, ICE Special Agent Matthew Huffman stated the suspect is unlawfully present in the United States, having previously been removed by ICE in 2012 and again in 2014. Special Agent Huffman wrote that Paez-Quinones also violated federal law, which forbids illegal aliens from possessing firearms or ammunition.
On March 20th, Paez-Quinones was indited by a grand jury and charged with Illegal Alien in Possession of Ammunition and Illegal Re-Entry of a Previously Deported Alien. United States Chief Magistrate Judge for the District of Wyoming Scott Klosterman set the defendant’s bond at $20,000, unsecured. Paez-Quinones was released from jail and ordered to return on May 27th for trial.
Five days later, on March 25th, Assistant United States Attorney Cameron Cook filed an appeal to revoke the defendant’s bond, arguing that the nature of the offenses shows a substantial risk to community safety.
Attorney Cook wrote in court documents that Paez-Quinones later admitted the 18,000 rounds of rifle ammunition were destined for Mexico, likely intended for a drug cartel.
A bond revocation hearing was scheduled for April 25th. However, the defendant failed to appear, and a bench warrant was issued. Authorities are still searching for Paez-Quinones, who is reported to have family in Colorado and Mexico.
Illegal Alien in Possession of Ammunition carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, while Illegal Re-Entry of a Previously Deported Alien has a base penalty of up to 2 years.
