Two South Texas men arrested for selling grenades out of abandoned house near school

Alberto Joseph Ortiz (pictured in a 2009 booking photo) and Cesar Giovanni Flores-Tirado of McAllen are suspected of selling 15 grenades to informants for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, according to The McAllen Monitor and an unsealed criminal complaint. less Alberto Joseph Ortiz (pictured in a 2009 booking photo) and Cesar Giovanni Flores-Tirado of McAllen are suspected of selling 15 grenades to informants for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and ... more Photo: Hidalgo County Jail Photo: Hidalgo County Jail Image 1 of / 41 Caption Close Two South Texas men arrested for selling grenades out of abandoned house near school 1 / 41 Back to Gallery

Federal agents have arrested two McAllen men who allegedly sold grenades to undercover federal agents out of an abandoned house near an elementary school, according to court documents.

Alberto Joseph Ortiz and Cesar Giovanni Flores-Tirado are suspected of selling 15 grenades to informants for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, according to The McAllen Monitor and an unsealed criminal complaint.

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On May 21, the informant met with Ortiz in the 800 block of South 26 1/2 in McAllen to purchase the grenade for $400, the complaint states.

ATF agents and the McAllen Police Department Bomb Squad determined the grenade was a functioning improvised explosive device.

Ortiz then sold the informant nine more grenades on May 22, according to the criminal complaint.

He told an informant on May 27 that he could buy five grenades from Flores-Tirado, the Monitor reported.

Ortiz and Flores-Tirado were arrested Monday after Oritz told an informant that he had 28 grenades available for purchase.

Ortiz admitted to federal agents that he lived next door to the abandoned house, according to the criminal complaint.

jfechter@mySA.com

Twitter: @JFreports