HOUSTON – A 44-year-old Port Arthur man has been ordered to federal prison for smuggling goods from the United States, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. Ismael Bernardez-Lacayo pleaded guilty Dec. 4, 2025.
U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett has now ordered Bernardez-Lacayo to serve 30 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by one year of supervised release.The investigation revealed Bernardez-Lacayo attempted to unlawfully ship dozens of firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition to Honduras in violation of United States law. On April 5, 2024, he drove to a shipping company located in Humble and dropped off two water heater boxes in a shipping container which was transported to the Port of Houston.
Law enforcement ultimately discovered a total of 37 firearms, 6,654 rounds of ammunition, 54 magazines and one rifle scope were hidden inside the water heaters. Bernardez-Lacayo did not have a license to export firearms, ammunition, magazines or scopes from the Unites States nor did he have authorization for the shipment of firearms and ammunition to Honduras as required. The pistols, rifles and scope in the shipment were classified as a controlled commodity on the Commerce Control List and are barred from being shipped to Honduras without an appropriate license. The investigation further revealed Bernardez-Lopez had previously attempted to ship ammunition and a firearm to Honduras in 2010 and was aware that it was illegal to do so without the appropriate license as required by federal law.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance of Seaport Border Enforcement Security Task force and Customs and Border Protection.Assistant U.S. Attorney Keri Fuller is prosecuting the case.