A citizen of Cuban origin identified as Elieser Sori Rodríguez, 51 years old, was recently sentenced to 57 months in prison by US District Judge Robin L. Rosenberg, this after he was arrested in the middle of last year in the Dominican Republic.
The subject was arrested in May during a police arms trafficking operation and was later deported.
According to the local press, the Cuban was in charge of an operation to acquire firearms illegally in the territory of the United States, to later smuggle them to the Dominican Republic.
To do this, the weapons were hidden inside boxes labeled as household items, which were discovered by the authorities.
An investigation revealed that Sori Rodríguez did not act alone, but had the help of citizens John Thomas Neal, Shane Sepersaude and William Ilijic, who helped with the purchase and mobilization of the illegal weapons.
The Cuban ended up admitting guilt to all the charges against him, which ended the judicial process.
In accordance with a statement Shared by the US Department of Justice (DOE), this prosecution is part of the ‘Project Safe Neighborhoods’ (PSN) program, a US operation that seeks to reduce violent crime on the streets.
The PSN has various law enforcement officers and community stakeholders working together to identify major violent crimes affecting the community’s streets, in this case, gun violence.
Sori Rodríguez case
The Cuban was arrested on May 12, 2023, but the authorities were investigating him due to a shipment of illegal weapons that was discovered in December 2021.
According to the local press, the Cuban was wanted by the Southern District of Florida since he was linked to said weapons seizure in the Port of Haina Oriental.
The arrest was a joint operation between the National Drug Control Directorate (DNCD), the Public Ministry, the Customs Directorate (DGA) and other international organizations.
Authorities noted that an inspection by Dominican Republic customs in late 2021 led to the seizure of 33 illegal firearms. Among this cargo were rifles, pistols and shotguns, in addition to 350 various ammunition, 56 magazines, pistol cartridges, shotgun cartridges, pistol and rifle magazines.
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