Chandler woman among 14 facing federal firearms charges

A grand jury has indicted 14 people, including residents of Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert and Phoenix, alleging they made false statements during firearms purchases.

The indictment alleges that between July 15 and Dec. 23, 2023, 13 people were paid to buy belt-fed rifles and Barrett .50-caliber semi-automatic rifles from licensed firearms dealers in and around Phoenix and Yuma for David Moreno Quevedo of El Mirage, according to a release from the Arizona district of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

As part of the conspiracy, the indictment alleges they lied on the Firearms Transaction Record, known as ATF Form 4473, claiming that they were purchasing the rifles for themselves. The charged conspirators include:

• Noelia Valenzuela Gomez, 25, of Chandler.
• David Moreno Quevedo, 26, of El Mirage.
• Mario Alberto Ayala, Jr., 23, of Maricopa.
• Randy Obed Valenzuela Chinchillas, 24, of Phoenix.
• Aidee Espinoza, 29, of Phoenix.
• Todd Robert Nuttall, 52, of Gilbert.
• Earl Marlow Burch, 49, of Mesa.
• Wyatt Michael Fernandez, 26, of Tempe.
• Jorge Luis Roman, 28, of Mesa.
• Dylan Morgan Burch, 21, of Eloy.
• Shawna Marie O’Shea, 56, of Tempe.
• Damaris Davila Moreno, 22, of Phoenix.
• Melissa Osorio Talamante, 31, of San Tan Valley.
• Michael Andrew Wingate, 31, of Mesa.

A conspiracy conviction carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.

A conviction for the crime of material false statement during the purchase of a firearm carries a maximum penalty of 10 years, a $250,000 fine, or both.