Thread: 3 ex-Marines accused of selling assault rifles to L.A. gang

Nov 09, 2010

3 ex-Marines accused of selling assault rifles to L.A. gang

06:31 PM

Three former U.S. Marines have been arrested for allegedly selling assault weapons to a Los Angeles gang and others, the Associated Press is reporting.

Federal officials said today that Adam Gitschlag of Orange County was the suspected ringleader and that he was arrested Nov. 2 at home. AP says that investigative documents it obtained state that he oversaw the sale of two cases of firearms, including an AK-47, two Russian and Romanian variants of the weapon and two other semiautomatic rifles.

One of the buyers allegedly was connected to the Florencia 13 gang.

Last week a Navy SEAL in San Diego and two others were charged with smuggling machine guns from Iraq to sell on the black market, AP writes.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities ... la-gangs/1

I do not understand this report.

Selling assault rifles is legal in America. Selling automatic weapons, be the assault rifle or other variants is illegal.

Are these marines in trouble for selling assault rifle or are they in trouble for selling automatic weapons?

W

Are these Marines that have turned to Cartel members?

Ex Marines that are SEIU union members now?

SEIU is a threat to California and the nation.

Originally Posted by ALIPAC

I do not understand this report.

Selling assault rifles is legal in America. Selling automatic weapons, be the assault rifle or other variants is illegal.

Are these marines in trouble for selling assault rifle or are they in trouble for selling automatic weapons?

W

They sold guns to gang members. Most gang members have criminal records so that would be illegal.
The Florencia 13 gang has many illegal alien members and it is illegal for any non-citizen to buy, or possess any gun in the U.S.

Marines sold military assault weapons to L.A. gang members, authorities allege [Updated]

November 9, 2010 | 3:04 pm

Four U.S. Marines have been arrested for allegedly selling rifles and assault weapons to gang members in Los Angeles.

Federal and state authorities told The Times that the investigation has been going on for several weeks and that it involves allegations that the Marines sold guns to gang members operating in the San Fernando Valley.

The suspects face state weapons charges, the sources said.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the case is ongoing, said officials plan to release more details about the case soon.

The arrests come several days after federal officials served search warrants at a home in San Clemente. At the time, officials declined to say what the probe was about. The San Clemente Times took photos showing boxes full of weapons apparently seized from the house, including large military-style weapons.

It's unclear how many weapons were involved or where the Marines were stationed. Officials did not immediately identify which gang purchased the weapons or how many gangs may have been involved.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Los Angeles Police Department; the Naval Criminal Intelligence Service; and the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, as well as officials from the Marine Corps.

The arrests were made Monday. More arrests are possible, the sources said.

[Updated at 3:28 p.m.: Authorities have released a statement naming the suspects and providing more details:

On Monday, ATF agents arrested Jose Smith Pacheco, 31, of Montebello, and Miguel A. Ortiz, 49, of Northridge, both former Marines. Also arrested were Edwin Cano, 33, of Northridge, and Christopher John Thomas, 32, of Van Nuys. The four, along with Gitschlag, are charged with five counts each of having unlawful assault weapons, including four AK-47 assault rifles and an AR-15 assault weapon. Cano faces three additional counts, including two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon. The felony complaint for arrest warrant was filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Deputy District Attorney Steven Dickman of the Hardcore Gang Division is prosecuting the case.]

-- Andrew Blankstein

Email: newstips@latimes.com
Twitter: @latimescitydesk @lanow
Facebook: latimescitydesk

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2 ... claim.html

Navy SEAL, 2 others accused of weapon smuggling

Authorities say a Navy special forces SEAL in California and men in Nevada and Colorado are accused of smuggling machine guns from Iraq into the United States for resale on the black market.

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-217249-machine.html+guns

The four, along with Gitschlag, are charged with five counts each of having unlawful assault weapons, including four AK-47 assault rifles and an AR-15 assault weapon.
Sounds like the were full auto, making them illegal.