Julian Arellano-Taylor, a 21-year-old resident of Stockton, has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for dealing firearms without a license and distributing cocaine. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Eric Grant.
Court documents show that between May 3, 2023, and March 3, 2024, Arellano-Taylor used Instagram to advertise and sell firearms. Among his customers was a confidential informant who purchased 11 firearms from him. These included ghost guns—firearms without serial numbers—made to resemble Glock pistols and AR-15-style rifles. During the same period, Arellano-Taylor also sold cocaine.
The investigation involved multiple agencies: the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Homeland Security Investigations; Sacramento Police Department; Lodi Police Department; Stockton Police Department; Sacramento County Sheriff’s Gang Suppression Unit; and San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Lee and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew De Moura prosecuted the case.
“This case was the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Sacramento Police Department, the Lodi Police Department, the Stockton Police Department, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Gang Suppression Unit, and the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office,” according to the press release.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), which uses a multi-agency approach to identify and dismantle high-level criminal organizations threatening the United States. More information about OCDETF is available at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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