06/17/2026
A San Diego County man who spent six days in a Mexican jail after mistakenly crossing the border with a legally owned firearm is suing California’s Attorney General for a determination on whether or not he can lawfully possess fi****ms.
In a newly filed lawsuit, obtained by Times of San Diego, Thomas Close was driving southbound on Interstate 5 on his way to a client’s house.
His mapping app, however, failed to alert him before missing the last U.S. exit, taking him into Mexico.
Mr. Close, who possessed a concealed carry permit, had a Heckler & Koch P2000 V3 handgun, a gun magazine and ammunition in his vehicle at the time.
After learning his mistake, Mr. Close, according to his lawsuit, immediately went to Mexican authorities to inform them of his mistake.
Law enforcement officers, however, detained Mr. Close on charges of carrying guns, ammunition and a magazine into the country.
Mr. Close was transported to jail, where he remained for six days, according to the complaint.
Unbeknownst to him, Mr. Close was in fact found guilty of all charges and sentenced to three years in prison. While his prison term was lifted, Mr. Close left Mexico as what in the U.S. would be considered a felon.
Under California Law, it is against the law for any person to possess a firearm if they have been convicted of a felony in “any other state, government, or country.” Violating PC 29800 could result in up to three years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
For several months, according to the lawsuit, Mr. Close contacted Ca. Attorney General Rob Bonta’s Office and the Bureau of Fi****ms for clarification and for help but have thus far been unsuccessful.
Mr. Close’s lawsuit now seeks a determination to be made.
Read the rest of the story: https://timesofsandiego.com/crime/2026/06/04/san-diego-county-man-jailed-in-mexico-after-wrong-turn-sues-over-gun-rights/
