LOS ANGELES
A federal grand jury on Tuesday charged a San Fernando Valley man with allegedly selling a total of nearly 16 pounds of methamphetamine and 89 firearms, including dozens of “ghost guns,” or firearms that lack serial numbers.
Julio Ernesto Lopez-Menendez, 26, a.k.a. “Iroe,” of Reseda, was charged in a 13-count indictment with four counts of distribution of methamphetamine, one count of engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license, four counts of possession of unregistered firearms, and four counts of possession of firearms not identified by serial numbers.
Lopez-Menendez’s arraignment is scheduled for May 5. He has been in federal custody since his April 14 arrest.
The indictment returned today details a series of alleged transactions involving Lopez-Menendez from January 6 to April 7, 2022.
These transactions typically involved large numbers of firearms and, sometimes, pound quantities of methamphetamine. Some firearms sold were so-called “ghost guns,” named because of their lack of a serial number.
Ghost guns are often assembled from parts purchased separately or in a kit. Because the separate parts do not bear serial numbers, the assembled ghost guns do not bear serial numbers, and they cannot be registered or traced.
In one deal on January 20, Lopez-Menendez allegedly sold the buyer – who was an undercover operative – a dozen firearms, including 10 semi-automatic “ghost gun” pistols.
In a February 10 transaction, Lopez-Menendez allegedly sold the buyer nearly one pound of methamphetamine and 14 firearms, including nine semi-automatic ghost gun pistols, for $15,000, the indictment alleges.
During the final two drug deals alleged in the indictment, Lopez-Menendez sold the buyer approximately 4.2 kilograms (9.2 pounds) and 2.2 kilograms (4.8 pounds) of methamphetamine on March 8 and March 23, respectively.
In total, Lopez-Menendez sold approximately 7.25 kilograms (15.98 pounds) of methamphetamine and 89 firearms – including 53 ghost guns, the indictment alleges.
Lopez-Menendez does not have a federal firearms license and does not have any firearms registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, the central registry for all items regulated under the National Firearms Act, according to court documents.
If convicted of the charges, Lopez-Menendez would face up to life in prison.
Lopez-Menendez is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The FBI; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; and the Los Angeles Police Department investigated this matter.