Arturo Astorquiza

ARTURO FERNANDO ASTORQUIZA or Arturo Fernan Astorquiza

2920 Shadowbriar 1012 Houston, TX 77082

On Monday, November 05, 2012, Arturo Fernan Astorquiza, a 36 year old White Male from Houston, TX was arrested for Firearm Smuggling - a 3rd Degree Felony

Arturo Fernan Astorquiza was booked into Harris County Jail on Tuesday, November 06, 2012

Date of Birth: 02-08-1976

Arrest Details
 * Booking Number: 3552068
 * Arrest Date: 11-05-2012
 * Booking Date: 11-06-2012
 * Charge Code: 520003
 * Charge Wording: FIREARM SMUGGLING
 * Charge Level: F3(3rd Degree Felony)
 * Case Number: 136705201010
 * Disposition:

Suspected drug smuggling kingpin Introduced undercover officers to Rudi Dekkers

- Federal authorities contend two men worked together to illegally purchase 21 military style guns in the Houston area as part of a ring that smuggled the weapons, which are especially prized in drug-cartel ravaged Mexico.

Arturo Fernando Astorquiza, an undocumented immigrant and Terrel Leon Bates, an American citizen, are accused of their roles to lie and buy the weapons from multiple local gun dealers, according to a federal indictment based on a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigation.

Bates acted as a what is known as “straw purchasers,” allegedly said the guns were for their own use, when the truth is they were to be passed on to others who either could not legally purchase the guns or didn’t want any paperwork linking them to the purchases. He was allegedly recruited by Astorquiza.