AZMEX EXTRA 26-9-12

AZMEX EXTRA 26 SEP 2012

Note: Texas

San Juan men arrested in undercover operation
September 25, 2012 10:43 PM
Jacqueline Armendariz
The Monitor
http://www.themonitor.com/news/juan-64176-arrested-police.html

A father and son duo accused of attempting to sell firearms were
arrested Tuesday after police executed two search warrants, one at
their home and another at a tire shop, San Juan Police Chief Juan
Gonzalez said.

The men, ages 21 and 37, face state and federal unlawful possession
of firearms charges, he said.

Authorities found an "Uzi-type" gun at the men's home at 215 E. 2nd
Street after one of them attempted to sell weapons to an undercover
officer, Gonzalez said. The other weapons to be sold for $525 were a
38 Super and a sawed off shotgun, which were both fully loaded. The
men were also selling a military grade bullet proof vest, he said.

"The good thing about this case is that they sold to an undercover
officer," Gonzalez said. "That's when we're able to take them off the
street. … They will sell to anybody."

The chief said the type of weapons confiscated can be used in a home
invasion or robbery, whereas the "Uzi-type" gun is often used in
drive-by shootings, he said.

The gun found at the home also had its serial number filed off, which
the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is
investigating, Gonzalez said.

The tire shop, at 126 W. Business 83, was the site where two weapons
were stored, so when it was under surveillance one of the suspects
was spotted picking them up there, he said.

The meeting with the undercover officer was set for Tuesday
afternoon, but the suspects were under surveillance for two days.

The regional SWAT team here carried out the search warrants, while
the San Juan Police Department's Special Investigative Unit developed
the case.

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