Analysis
What the administration claimed
DHS states that between May 2024 and July 2025 Samuel Rodrigo Melo Santos purchased 91 firearms for $56,448 and 40,000 rounds of ammunition, and pleaded guilty to being an alien in possession of a firearm and making false statements in acquiring a firearm.
Claimant: U.S. Department of Homeland Security DHS Spokesperson
Agency or office: U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Context
DHS press release (ICE HSI investigation) reporting that Samuel Rodrigo Melo Santos pleaded guilty (Aug 6) to charges including alien in possession of a firearm; the release states he purchased 91 firearms and 40,000 rounds of ammunition during May 2024–July 2025.
Evidence
The DHS press release asserts these purchase totals and plea; the claims are specific and attributed to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon. The assertion is directly supported by the DHS text and would be verifiable via the U.S. Attorney’s Office press release or court docket for the case. No contradictory information appears in the DHS release.