Federal agents arrested two Pharr brothers on Friday, when they attempted to swap $17,000 for a .50-caliber rifle during a clandestine meeting at Costco.
Agents arrested Juan Hiram Galvan, 26, of Pharr and Jose Elias Galvan, 30, of Pharr, according to the federal criminal complaints against them.
Homeland Security Investigations — a division of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — worked the case with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
At 11:30 a.m. Friday, the Galvan brothers met an undercover federal agent at Costco.
Jose Galvan paid $17,000 for the rifle, according to the criminal complaint.
Federal agents immediately arrested the Galvan brothers.
Both men said they planned to sell the rifle to someone nicknamed “Limon” in Reynosa, according to the criminal complaint.
Federal agents charged with them attempting to export the .50-caliber rifle in violation of U.S. law.
Jose Galvan’s attorney couldn’t immediately comment on the case. Juan Galvan’s attorney couldn’t immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.
