AZ sheriff says 2 guns tied to 'Fast and Furious'
Associated Press | Posted: Tuesday, November 1, 2011 4:10 pm | Comments
http://azstarnet.com/news/state-and-regional/az-sheriff-says-guns-
tied-to-fast-and-furious/article_92395250-
b9ca-51e9-8ac6-13bf5380b5d0.html
An Arizona sheriff says that two guns seized as part of a major drug
smuggling bust have been connected to a botched federal investigation
known as "Fast and Furious."
"Fast and Furious" was a controversial Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms' investigation that lost track of up to 1,400 weapons that
were sold in Arizona gun stores to suspected straw buyers for Mexican
drug gangs.
A number of guns have been recovered at crime scenes in Mexico and
two were found at the scene of a Border Patrol agent's death.
Now Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu says two more "Fast and Furious"
guns have been seized in Arizona from members of the Sinaloa cartel,
Mexico's most powerful.
The two guns were among 108 weapons seized in three busts in
September and October that authorities said effectively dismantled a
major drug smuggling ring tied to the Sinaloa cartel.
Read more: http://azstarnet.com/news/state-and-regional/az-sheriff-
says-guns-tied-to-fast-and-furious/article_92395250-
b9ca-51e9-8ac6-13bf5380b5d0.html#ixzz1cYd7kLsL
Woman pleads not guilty in gun-trafficking case
By Ashley Meeks ameeks@lcsun-news.com
Posted: 11/02/2011 01:38:05 AM MDT
http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_19246046
LAS CRUCES - The last defendant in a firearms-trafficking case
centered in Columbus, N.M., entered a not-guilty plea Tuesday in
federal court in Las Cruces.
Gabrielle Gutierrez, 30, pleaded not guilty before U.S. Magistrate
Court Judge William P. Lynch on Tuesday afternoon to charges of
conspiracy, two counts of making false statements in connection with
the acquisition of firearms, and two counts of smuggling goods from
the United States.
A federal grand jury in Las Cruces returned a five-count indictment
Oct. 20 against Gutierrez, wife of ousted Columbus village trustee
Blas "Woody" Gutierrez, who has already been convicted for taking
part in the conspiracy.
She is accused of conspiring with her co-defendants from January 2010
to March 2011 to purchase firearms in the United States, knowing that
the firearms were intended to be smuggled into Mexico, according to
the indictment. She is also accused of recruiting a straw purchaser
to buy 10 firearms on Feb. 12 from Chaparral Guns in Chaparral, N.M.,
and paying both that person and another straw purchaser, on Jan. 15,
$1,000 each for their cooperation.
Gutierrez, who is free on conditional release pending trial, faces up
to 35 years in prison if convicted on the charges.
A total of 12 of the 14 defendants charged with taking part in a
smuggling ring that provided the La Linea cartel in Mexico with
firearms and tactical gear have accepted plea deals in the case and
await sentencing.
None have been sentenced. 13th defendant, Ignacio "Nachito"
Villalobos, 24, of Columbus, N.M., is on the run and remains charged
with two counts of smuggling firearms and one count conspiracy.
An indictment or criminal complaint is only an accusation. All
criminal defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond
a reasonable doubt.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives, ICE Homeland Security Investigations and the
Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Comandante
Chihuahua State Police in Palomas, Mexico, and the Secretariat of
Public Security in Juárez, Mexico. The U.S. Marshal's Service, U.S.
Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, New Mexico State
Police, Las Cruces Police Department, El Paso Police Department as
well as other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies also
provided assistance during the investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Greg
McDonald and Steven Spitzer.
Ashley Meeks can be reached at (575) 541-5462; follow her on Twitter
@AshleyMeeks.
The indicted •Ex-police chief Angelo Vega, 40, of Columbus, pleaded
guilty to aiding in the smuggling of weapons and extortion under
color of official right.
•Former Mayor Eddie Espinoza, 51, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to
three counts of firearms smuggling, three counts of making false
statements about acquiring firearms and conspiracy.
•Former Village Trustee Blas "Woody" Gutierrez, 30, of Columbus,
pleaded guilty to 19 counts of firearms smuggling, 17 counts of
making false statements about acquiring firearms and conspiracy.
•Alberto Rivera, 40, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to nine counts of
firearms smuggling, nine counts of making false statements about
acquiring firearms and conspiracy.
•Vincente Carreon, 26, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to firearms
smuggling and conspiracy.
•Miguel Carrillo, 30, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to three counts of
firearms smuggling, two counts of making false statements about
acquiring firearms and conspiracy.
•Manuel "Coruco" Ortega, 25, of Palomas, Mexico, pleaded guilty to
firearms smuggling and conspiracy.
•Ricardo Gutierrez, 25, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to three counts
of firearms smuggling, three counts of making false statements about
acquiring firearms and conspiracy.
•Eva Lucie Gutierrez, 21, of Las Cruces, pleaded guilty to making
false statements about acquiring firearms and conspiracy.
•Brenda and David Christy, 54 and 55, of Deming, have pleaded guilty
to making false statements to a federally licensed firearms dealer.
•Ian Garland, 50, of Chaparral, N.M., pleaded guilty to one count of
firearms smuggling, six counts of making false statements about
acquiring firearms and conspiracy.
•Ignacio "Nachito" Villalobos, 24, of Columbus, is on the run and
remains charged with two counts of smuggling firearms and one count
conspiracy.
None have been sentenced yet.
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