Smuggling Guns into the US from Mexico?

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cuervo

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So, two illegals get a total of less than two months in prison for coming into the US illegally and having 147 "assault rifles." Prosecutors not saying very much. Presumably the reporter was confused about which way the guns were headed, that should still be at least 148 separate crimes for each of them (if an illegal can't buy a gun, isn't it also illegal to possess one?).

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/06/0...al-immigrants-carrying-nearly-assault-rifles/

McALLEN, Texas -- Two Mexican nationals caught in Texas with 147 assault rifles, 10,000 rounds of ammunition, high-capacity magazines and bayonets have started serving short federal sentences after pleading guilty to entering the U.S. illegally.

Federal prosecutors released the names of Damaso Alberto Rueda Cabrera and Arnulfo de la Cruz Sanchez on Thursday along with the unusual announcement that the men made their initial appearances in federal court, pleaded guilty and were sentenced to terms of 10 days and 45 days, respectively, all on Tuesday.

In a prepared statement, U.S. Attorney Jose Angel Moreno said the investigation continued and no further comment would be made by any of the agencies involved. U.S. District Magistrate Judge J. Scott Hacker sentenced both men. Marissa Perez-Garcia, head of the federal public defenders office in Laredo, said she had no comment on the case.

Laredo police pulled over the two men Saturday afternoon. Police said it was the biggest weapons seizure in the area in years and that while the investigation was ongoing, it appeared clear the guns were destined for Mexico.

De la Cruz, 53, of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, waded across the Rio Grande into Laredo on May 28, according to court records.

Rueda, 20, of Reynosa, Mexico, was the driver and had been in the U.S. since illegally crossing the border Dec. 15, 2008, according to court records.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Immigration and Customs Enforcement are conducting the investigation. The men remain in federal custody.

The seizure came just two weeks after Mexican President Felipe Calderon suggested in a speech to a joint session of Congress that the U.S. consider reinstating the assault weapons ban. Mexico has long argued that easily obtained weapons in the U.S. had escalated Mexico's violent drug war.

More than 23,000 people have died in drug-related violence in Mexico since Calderon declared war on drug traffickers after taking office in December 2006.
 
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Seems they were jailed while the investigation continued into the firearms. The Clinton assault weapon ban would have no effect, but I suppose the Mexican govt has to blame in on something outside their borders.
 
Presumably the reporter was confused about which way the guns were headed,

Probably. The prosecutor could have also intentionally stated something crazy like that to cause them to argue the opposite, essentially making the case against themselves.

"So you are charged with illegal smuggling X number of firearms into this country..."
Smuggling things in traditionally carries a much greater sentence than sending things out.
So I could see such charges as a ploy to try and get them to give evidence against themselves proving they acquired them in Texas rather than brought them from Mexico.


Prosecutors do such things all the time. Accuse people of things they know full well the individual is not guilty of in an attempt to gain other evidence against them, or have them prove another charge by disproving one.
Or charge a family member or friend they know is not likely guilty, it an effort to cause them to give up information or pressure the person they think is actually guilty to do so.

In fact there is some charges that work together very well that way, that to actively disprove one requires making the case for another charge. Requiring self incrimination to disprove one charge.


Most likely in this situation it is just a typo, considering they even say the guns were likely destined for Mexico in the story.


People in Mexico obtain firearms in all sorts of ways. There has been a lot of pressure to find an example, and even an international arms meeting on firearms, with pressure on the US to increase gun control.
The Mexican president separately has be urging everyone in the US government, from Congress to the president to reinstate the AWB.

They have been itching for such an incident to prove the US as a source of firearms.
One could say they even wanted someone to get caught doing it.

It does not change the fact that the cartels can acquire firearms from many sources, as the RPGs and grenades and rifle grenades common used, along with belt fed machineguns and full auto Mexican police and military arms from the factory they deploy demonstrate.
 
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They didn't state what they plead guilty to. If it was entry without inspection, then the sentance is not out of line.

If it was for 922(g) (illegal alien in possession of a firearm), then I really wonder what is going on.
 
Actually the guns probably were headed for Mexico. Its a matter of economics. All of the illegal border activity boils down to making money. Pure and simple. It doesn't make much sense to bring guns into the US since Mexico is were the demand and money is. Unless these were some real serious NFA-type weaponry that a US source was willing to pay a premium for.

In reality a lot of guns do go south into Mexico especially handguns though the demand isn't limited to cartels. A lot of normal people want them for protection and the easiest and most economical way to obtain one is to buy an illegal import, usually one that came from north of the border.

That said the cartels generate billions of dollars in income. They'll never have any trouble arming their people.
 
Why would they get semi auto stuff from the US, when they can get all the full auto stuff they want from places like Central and South America, and alot cheaper?

Makes no sense.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr
 
The article is somewhat contradictory. In one statement they say there is no other investigation into the incident going on. Then a few sentences later they say the BATF is investigating. Well, which is it? I'm a bit confused on that one.
 
Smuggling things in traditionally carries a much greater sentence than sending things out.

Not for weapons, read up on ITAR federal regulations, you might also be fairly shocked at some of the stuff falling under these regulations.

Another case buried by the powers that be to maintain the illegals are warm and fuzzy illusion of the left.
 
Not for weapons, read up on ITAR federal regulations,

Yeah I am aware of ITAR, it is one of the most abused pieces of legislation, manipulated far beyond its stated purpose.
It was supposed to keep confidential technology that gives America an advantage from being sent outside the country where it could end up in the hands of enemies, not simple firearms technology the whole world already has.



But what is the ITAR penalties vs illegal smuggling of say something like an NFA item into the USA?
I know drug smugglers face up to a life sentence on a first offense for smuggling in an illegal drug, and a minimum 10 year sentence.
http://www.justice.gov/dea/agency/penalties.htm
Just being caught bringing in illegal drugs can carry a penalty as great as shooting someone.
The stakes are high, so the cartels and smugglers are already used to such stakes.

5-10 year sentences for weapons violations are nothing by comparison.
Even a 20 year sentence would be less than they could have probably faced bringing illegal contraband into the country.
 
If they were truly "assault rifles" and in the U.S. couldn't they at least be charged with 1470 years in the federal pen and $14.7 million in fines for possession of 147 unregistered MGs? (10yrs/$100k fine each)?
 
I guess my main point, is it they were US citizens instead of illegals, it would be major news with the Feds falling all over themselves to throw the book at them and call for more restrictions.

The ITAR stuff is very complicated, we have a "specialist" at work we need to talk to whenever we go overseas
 
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