Woman charged with lying about criminal background, U.S. residency in firearm purchase application

A Souderton Borough woman who attempted to buy a firearm at a borough business has been charged with lying on a Pennsylvania Instant Check System application due to her criminal background and United States residency status.

Iris Guadalupe Pinto Cueva, 43, of the 30^th block of North Main Street, was charged July 17 by Souderton Borough Police with felony providing false information for firearm ownership and misdemeanor giving a false statement under penalty of law, according to court records.

Police allege Pinto Cueva cannot own a firearm under state and federal law because she is a Honduran national that is in the country illegally and has a criminal record.

On June 4, 2024, police received an email from the Pennsylvania State Firearms Division regarding an attempted purchase of a gun nine months ago on Sept. 11, 2023, by Pinto-Cueva at Wellington Sporting Goods Inc., 43 N. Main St., Souderton, police said. The state division also provided police with Pinto-Cueva’s instant check challenge form, an instant check response letter, and Pinto-Cueva’s federal criminal history, per the affidavit.

Police said the Pennsylvania Instant Check System explains everything that would make someone prohibited from possessing a firearm. One question, police said, asked “Are you a person who: being an alien, is illegal unlawfully in the United States?” and ends with a warning of unsworn falsification to authorities. Pinto-Cueva, police said, dated and signed this part of the form.

Police said Pinto-Cueva was attempting to purchase a .380 Auto Beretta Pico 380, per the affidavit.

Another part of the form asked for personal information, where Pinto-Cueva filled in her address and Honduras as her country of birth, police said. Under “Country of Citizenship,” Pinto-Cueva checked the box for “United States of America,” per the complaint.

A third question asked “Are you an alien illegally or unlawfully in the United States?” and Pinto-Cueva, police allege, checked “NO.” A fourth question asked “Are you an alien who has ben admitted to the United States under a nonimmigrant visa?” and “NO” is checked off, police said.

Police said FBI records show Pinto-Cueva was arrested by Customs and Border Patrol in Texas on June 28, 2019.

Pinto-Cueva is free on 10% of $5,000 cash bail, according to court records. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 11 at 2:30 p.m. before Magisterial District Judge Adam T. Katzman.

All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.