Former owner of Danny’s Pawn and Sporting Goods pleads guilty in ammunition case – Progress Times

The former owner of Danny’s Pawn and Sporting Goods pleaded guilty to unlawfully selling ammunition last month.

Daniel Gallegos, 67, of McAllen, sold more than 5,800 rounds of ammunition to an informant during an undercover operation.

“Danny is my friend,” said attorney Crispin “CJ” Quintanilla of McAllen, who is representing Gallegos. “And it’s a sad situation.”

Gallegos co-owned Danny’s Pawn and Sporting Goods in McAllen and Point Blank Sporting Goods in Pharr.

“In early 2020, Homeland Security Investigations identified a cooperating individual with the initials AJ, whom Gallegos had previously met in his role as owner of Danny’s Pawn and Sporting Goods in McAllen, Texas,” Assistant Attorney Paxton Warner said July 28 Gallegos pleaded guilty. “AJ is an alien illegally and unlawfully residing in the United States.”

Agents from Homeland Security Investigations — which are part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives sent AJ to Danny’s Pawn in March, April and May 2020.

Gallegos knew AJ wasn’t allowed to buy ammo, but he still sold him more than 5,800 rounds and 10 magazines.

AJ purchased ammunition from Gallegos on five separate occasions. Agents worked with AJ to record the “controlled purchases.”

Documents filed by prosecutors provide no further details about AJ or reveal why AJ chose to become a government informant. Gallegos had apparently sold AJ ammunition before.

“Prior to all of these purchases, Gallegos was aware of AJ’s banned status,” Warner said. “And knowingly sold ammunition and magazines to AJ despite his status.”

The US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas presented the case to a grand jury that indicted Gallegos on five counts of illegal ammunition sales.

Gallegos pleaded not guilty in December 2021.

However, the terms of his release prohibited Gallegos from engaging in the sale or distribution of firearms. Gallegos also had about 200 firearms, archery equipment, and samurai swords removed from his home.

Gallegos resigned from Danny’s Pawn and Point Blank in February, two months after the indictment, according to documents filed with the Texas Secretary of State’s office.

A few months later, he struck a deal with prosecutors.

Gallegos agreed to plead guilty to one count of illegal ammunition sale. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to drop the four remaining charges.

“You knew what you were doing was illegal? And no one forced you to do it?” US District Judge Ricardo Hinojosa asked. “You did it voluntarily?”

Gallegos replied, “Yes sir.”

Sentencing is scheduled for October 18. Gallegos faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.