December 3, 2025 – Merced County Sheriff's Office officials report that on November 26, 2025, our Detectives Bureau authored two search warrants related to illegal firearms trafficking at two residences located in the 2400 block of Sultana Drive in Atwater and the 900 block of Montelena Court in Livingston. Detectives, with the assistance of the Merced Sheriff's SWAT team and Merced County Probation, executed the warrants, and one suspect, identified as Bryan Sebastian Merino, 23, from Atwater, was arrested.

Merino was booked into the Merced County Sheriff's Office Jail on a Ramey warrant for the manufacture, sale, or possession of an undetectable firearm and possession of an assault weapon. A total of seven rifles, five handguns with several magazines and ammunition were located during the search warrants. The guns varied from undetectable/privately manufactured firearms and stolen firearms, one of which was converted into a machine gun.

Great job to our Detective Bureau for their diligent work in getting these guns off the streets! Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to contact Detective Joseph Royel at 209.385.7472. Callers may remain anonymous.

Source & photos: Merced County Sheriff's Office