Amarillo Man Faces Life For Supplying Guns To Mexican Cartel

A man in Amarillo was recently indicted by a grand jury for conspiracy to provide firearms to one of the largest Mexican cartels in the world. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.

He Assisted the Cartel with Guns and Information

27-year-old Loyd Walter Hall, from Amarillo, is charged with supplying firearms and other support for the Sinaloa Cartel, one of the largest and most diverse Mexican cartels.

The Sinaloa Cartel has been in a state of civil war after their leader, Ismael Zambada Garcia, entered a plea deal after his arrest. In order to avoid the death sentence, Zambada admitted to his involvement in smuggling and conspiracy charges over the past four decades. The 76-year-old will instead receive a life sentence in federal prison.

You can read more about the Sinaloa Cartel and Zambada's removal as leader right here.

Hall, along with several co-conspirators, maintained a relationship with a member of the Sinaloa Cartel for years, trading firearms, technical knowledge, and guidance on avoiding U.S. law enforcement during their smuggling attempts.

Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Dallas Field Division Brian Garner pointed out the importance of getting people like Hall behind bars:

The allegations in this indictment describe not only the illegal trafficking of firearms to a designated foreign terrorist organization, but also efforts to provide the Sinaloa Cartel with guidance on bypassing U.S. firearms laws and avoiding law enforcement detection.

If convicted, Hall faces a potential life in federal prison for his role in assisting a terrorist organization.

You can also read more on how providing weapons, knowledge, and other goods to terrorist organizations is defined and punished in America from the U.S. Congress website.