Former mayor of New Mexico border town pleads guilty to gun smuggling charges

[jpak]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/mayor-of-new-mexico-border-town-pleads-guilty-to-gun-smuggling-charges/2011/07/13/gIQAISxwCI_story.html

The former mayor of a small New Mexico border town has pleaded guilty to federal gun smuggling charges and faces up to 65 years in prison, prosecutors announced Wednesday.

Eddie Espinoza, 51, was one of three of Columbus town officials arrested in a federal sting in March. They were among a dozen people accused of taking part in a ring that federal officials said smuggled guns across the border. Espinoza, police chief Angelo Vega and former trustee Blas Guitierrez have been in jail ever since.

United States Attorney John E. Murphy of West Texas announced Wednesday afternoon that Espinoza pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, three counts of making false statements in the acquisition of firearms and three counts of smuggling firearms from the United States during a hearing Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge William P. Lynch in Las Cruces.

He faces up to 10 years in federal prison for each of the smuggling counts; up to five years in federal prison for the conspiracy charge as well as each of the false statement charges. Espinoza remains in federal custody. No sentencing date has been scheduled.

<more>

[TheWraith]

1. Maybe the ATF should spend more time prosecuting lawbreakers than helping them.

And, of course, exaggerating the role of smuggling in Mexico's situation so they can get more money and power.

[GreenStormCloud]

2. Another crooked politician. Sadly, Eddie Espinoza is a Democrat. N/T

[ileus]

3. Criminal....just criminal....people like this give guns a bad name.