A Whittier man was sentenced today to over 10 years in federal prison for operating an unlicensed firearm dealing business that sold “ghost guns” and for planning the armed robbery of a confidential federal informant, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California.
According to the U.S. attorney’s office, Salvador Lopez, 24, pleaded guilty in October 2024 to one count of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license and one count of armed robbery of U.S. funds while using a dangerous weapon.
“Selling firearms illegally and putting more untraceable weapons into the community shows a blatant disregard for the law and puts the safety of our citizens at great risk,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada.
“This defendant’s lengthy sentence should serve as a warning to others that law enforcement will act decisively to prevent violent gun crime.”
According to the department, Lopez used Instagram, including direct messages and public posts, to sell firearms.
The weapons included “Glock switches,” firearms with obliterated serial numbers, and stolen guns, the office confirmed.