Mass Weapons Seizure In Riverside County Part Of Investigation Into Illegal Firearms Sales

HOMELAND, CA — More than 500 guns were seized from a property east of Lake Elsinore earlier this month, and a woman was arrested as part of an investigation into illegal firearms sales, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department announced late Monday night.

The weapons were discovered during a late-night April 17 search warrant service in the 26000 block of Sultanas Road in Homeland.

Hundreds of rifles, shotguns, and handguns with altered serial numbers were discovered at the property, according to the sheriff's department.

Maria Veronica Force, 45, of Homeland, was arrested during the operation but has since been released from custody. As of Tuesday, she has not been formally charged in the case, court records show.

In addition to alleged illegal firearms sales and selling firearms with altered serial numbers, Force is also suspected of grand theft of firearms and possession of a concealed firearm, according to the sheriff's department.

The investigation is ongoing, the sheriff's department reported, but it's unclear whether there might be additional suspects in the case. Further details were not disclosed.