Pubdate: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 Source: Las Cruces Sun-News (NM) Copyright: 2011 Las Cruces Sun-News Contact: http://www.lcsun-news.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/674 Author: Ashley Meeks Note: MAP archives articles exactly as published, except that our editors may redact the names and addresses of accused persons who have not been convicted of a crime, if those named are not otherwise public figures or officials. COLUMBUS OFFICIALS SWEPT IN UP FED FIREARMS RAID LAS CRUCES - A police chief, a mayor, a village trustee and eight others, including a Mexican citizen, have been indicted for allegedly trafficking firearms in Do-a Ana and Luna counties to Mexico, U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales announced Thursday. Columbus Chief of Police Angelo Vega, Columbus Mayor Eddie Espinoza and Village Trustee Blas Gutierrez are three the 11 defendants charged in the 84-count federal indictment, which was unsealed Thursday afternoon after two-county raids that began in the early hours Thursday. "Gutierrez, Espinoza and Vega were duty sworn to protect and safeguard the people of Columbus, N.M.," said Gonzales, in announcing the indictment Thursday. "Instead, they increased the risk of harm that the people of Columbus face every day by allegedly using their official positions to facilitate and safeguard the operations of a smuggling ring that was exporting firearms to Mexico. Today's indictment reflects our unwavering resolve to ensure safety along our Southwest border and to expose and prosecute corrupt officials who seek to profit at the expense of the citizenry they are sworn to protect." An indictment is only an accusation. All criminal defendants are entitled to a presumption of innocence until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The group, headquartered in Columbus, N.M., have been charged with smuggling firearms, conspiracy and making false statements to acquire the weapons. Ten of the defendants were arrested without incident Thursday morning by teams of federal, state and local law enforcement officers and will make their initial appearances today in the federal courthouse in Las Cruces. However, [name4 redacted] has not been apprehended and is considered a fugitive. The officers also executed 10 search warrants at eight residences, one business establishment and at the office of the Columbus Police Department. Guns seized Between January 2010 and March of this year, the defendants allegedly conspired to purchase firearms for illegal export to Mexico, according to the indictment. About 200 firearms - AK-47-type pistols - weapons resembling shortened AK-47 rifles - and American Tactical 9 mm caliber pistols, all firearms favored by Mexican drug cartels - were allegedly purchased from Chaparral Guns in Chaparral, N.M., owned and operated by defendant Ian Garland. The purchasers were allegedly "straw purchasers," buying the guns on behalf of others. Law enforcement officers have seized 40 AK-47-type pistols, 1,580 rounds of 7.62 ammunition and 30 high-capacity magazines from the defendants before they crossed the U.S.-Mexico border. No weapons were knowingly permitted to cross the border, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, but 12 firearms later found in Mexico were allegedly traced back to purchase by the defendants, according to the indictment. Security priority "This investigation, along with the countless others that ATF and HSI have pursued jointly over the past several years, provides further proof that the trafficking of firearms to Mexico continues to be a significant problem," said William Newell, special agent in charge of the ATF Phoenix Field Division. "The good news is that all the agencies involved in this investigation were fully committed to joining forces to stop this activity, and the results speak for themselves." ICE and DEA officials echoed those sentiments. "Identifying and arresting individuals involved in criminal activities, especially weapons and drug trafficking, in our homeland is a national security priority for ICE," said Manuel Oyola-Torres, special agent in charge of ICE Homeland Security Investigation in El Paso. "ICE HSI special agents will continue working shoulder to shoulder with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to stop the flow of drugs, weapons and other contraband across the U.S.-Mexico border." The raid came just one day after U.S. authorities indicted 35 alleged leaders, members and associates of the Barrio Azteca gang in El Paso, including 10 men charged in connection with the killing of three people linked to the U.S. Consulate in Juarez last year. The FBI-led a multi-agency strike against the bi-national gang and arrested 12 people during raids Wednesday morning in El Paso and southern New Mexico. "This investigation is an example of our collective efforts to attack drug trafficking organizations at every level, including their important corruption components and gun suppliers," said Joseph M. Arabit, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for the El Paso Division. "Three of the 11 members of this conspiracy are government officials who violated the public trust by using their positions to facilitate and engage in illegal arms trafficking. We, along with our law enforcement partners, are committed to rooting out this type of corruption and will not allow the criminal activities of a few to tarnish the honorable work that officers and local elected officials perform every day in this region." The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan Lichvarcik and Michael Nammar and was investigated primarily by ATF, HSI and DEA, with significant assistance from Texas U.S. Attorney John E. Murphy and his El Paso Branch Office staff. It was also supported by the Comandante Chihuahua State Police in Palomas, Mexico and the Secretariat of Public Security in Juarez, Mexico. Further assistance during the investigation was provided by the U.S. Marshal's Service, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, New Mexico State Police, the Las Cruces Police Department, the El Paso Police Department, and other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. If convicted of conspiracy to smuggle firearms from the U.S. to Mexico and with making false statements in connection with the acquisition of firearms, each defendant could receive a sentence of five years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine for each charge. If convicted with making false statements in connection with the acquisition of firearms, each defendant could face a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine for each charge. If convicted of unlawfully concealing and facilitating the transportation of firearms knowing that the firearms were intended for exportation from the U.S., each defendant could face a maximum of 10 years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine for each charge. - --------------------------------- Swept up Those charged in Thursday's Southern New Mexico sweep: In Columbus Police Chief Angelo Vega, 40, is charged with conspiracy. Mayor Eddie Espinoza, 51, is charged with three counts of firearms smuggling, three counts of making false statements about acquiring firearms and conspiracy. Village Trustee Blas "Woody" Gutierrez, 30, is charged with 19 counts of firearms smuggling, 17 counts of making false statements in connection about acquiring firearms and conspiracy. [name1 redacted], 24, is charged with two counts of smuggling firearms and one count conspiracy. [name2 redacted], 40, is charged with nine counts of firearms smuggling, nine counts of making false statements about acquiring firearms and conspiracy. [name3 redacted], 26, is charged with firearms smuggling and conspiracy. [name4 redacted], 30, is charged with three counts of firearms smuggling, two counts of making false statements about acquiring firearms and conspiracy. [name5 redacted], 25, of Palomas, Mexico, is charged with firearms smuggling and conspiracy. [name6 redacted], 25, is charged with three counts of firearms smuggling, three counts of making false statements about acquiring firearms and conspiracy. In Las Cruces [name7 redacted], 21, is charged with making false statements about acquiring firearms and conspiracy. In Chaparral, N.M. [name8 redacted], 50, is charged with one count of firearms smuggling, six counts of making false statements about acquiring firearms and conspiracy. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.