A 24-year-old Whittier man was sentenced to 121 months – over 10 years– in federal prison on Monday, Jan. 6 for “operating an unlicensed firearm dealing business” that sold ghost guns and planning the robbery of a confidential informant after agreeing to sell firearms to the informant, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
Salvador Lopez pleaded guilty to dealing firearms without a license and armed robbery of money while using a dangerous weapon in October 2024. Despite not having a federal firearm license, Lopez sold or helped sell 15 firearms to law enforcement agents and individuals working for law enforcement, according to a DOJ news release.
“Selling firearms illegally and putting more untraceable weapons into the community shows a blatant disregard for the law and puts the safety of our citizens at great risk,” said the U.S. Attorney in Los Angeles, Martin Estrada, in the release. “This defendant’s lengthy sentence should serve as a warning to others that law enforcement will act decisively to prevent violent gun crime.”
Lopez arranged a firearm sale to a confidential federal informant, then messaged a minor, instructing the minor to rob the informant at gunpoint, not to complete the sale. Along with accomplices, the minor robbed the informant of $5,000, the informant’s personal cellphone and vehicle. Lopez got part of the proceeds from this robbery, the DOJ said.
Other defendants charged in the case, who are set to be sentenced later this year and are also not licensed to deal firearms, used Instagram to sell the ghost guns, or guns without serial numbers, and Glock switches, a device that can turn a handgun into a fully automatic firearm, stolen firearms and firearms with “obliterated” serial numbers, according to the DOJ release. The defendants made sales in North Hollywood and Las Vegas, among other locations.