Columbus, NM mayor, police chief indicted in firearms trafficking case

Columbus, NM mayor, police chief indicted in firearms trafficking case

2011-03-12 01:04:20 GMT+7 (ICT)

COLUMBUS, NEW MEXICO (BNO NEWS) -- Columbus, New Mexico mayor, the police chief and 9 more on Thursday were indicted in a firearms trafficking case, prosecutors said on Friday.

The indictment charged eleven individuals who are suspected members of a firearms trafficking ring headquartered in Columbus, New Mexico, a small border village across from the Mexican city of Puerto Palomas, on firearms and smuggling charges.

The 11 people charged in the 84-count indictment include Angelo Vega, the Columbus chief of police; Eddie Espinoza, the mayor of Columbus; and Blas Gutierrez, a village trustee in Columbus.

"Gutierrez, Espinoza and Vega were duty sworn to protect and safeguard the people of Columbus, New Mexico," said U.S. Attorney Kenneth Gonzales. "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."

Ten of them were arrested without incidents on Thursday morning. One defendant, Ignacio Villalobos, is at large. In addition, law enforcement agents executed ten search warrants at eight residences, including the office of the Columbus Police Department.

Between January 2010 and March 2011, the defendants engaged in a conspiracy to purchase firearms for illegal export to Mexico. The trafficking ring allegedly purchased approximately 200 firearms from Chaparral Guns in Chaparral, New Mexico, which is owned and operated by defendant Ian Garland.

The weapons purchased were the ones known to be favored by Mexican drug cartels, such as AK-47-type pistols, weapons resembling AK-47 rifles but with shorter barrels and without rear stocks, and American Tactical 9 mm caliber pistols.

During the investigation, 40 AK-47 type pistols, 1,580 rounds of 7.62 ammunition, and 30 high-capacity magazines were seized from the defendants before they crossed the U.S.-Mexico border.

At least twelve weapons allegedly purchased by the defendants were later found in Mexico. The investigation was initiated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The year-long case was later expanded to include the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

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