Thread: Fifth Columbus N.M. gun ring defendant pleads guilty

Fifth Columbus gun ring defendant pleads guilty

By Ashley Meeks / Las Cruces Sun-News
Posted: 07/21/2011 09:11:21 AM MDT

LAS CRUCES - A fifth defendant has pleaded guilty in a case charging the Columbus police chief, mayor, a village trustee, and nine others with trafficking firearms to Mexican cartels.

Manuel "Coruco" Ortega, 25, of Palomas, Mexico, faces up to 15 years in federal prison for firearms smuggling and conspiracy after entering the plea Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge William P. Lynch in Las Cruces.

Between last January and March of this year, the 13 defendants, headquartered in Columbus, allegedly conspired to smuggle about 200 firearms favored by Mexican cartels, at least partially on the orders of Jesus "Mantequilla" Molinas, an inmate at Cereso federal prison in Juárez.

Some of the weapons were allegedly found at the scenes of a murder, a kidnapping and a drug bust in Mexican border towns.

The defendants allegedly paid Chaparral Guns about $70,000 for the AK-47 pistols and American Tactical 9 mm pistols, with the potential to sell the firearms for three times that on the other side of the border.

Four other defendants have pleaded guilty since last week, including former Mayor Eddie Espinoza.

Espinoza, 51, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, three counts of making false statements in the acquisition of firearms and three counts of smuggling firearms from the United States and faces up to 50 years in prison at sentencing.

Alberto Rivera, 40, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and nine counts each of making false statements in the acquisition of firearms and smuggling firearms from the United States and faces up to 140 years in federal prison at sentencing.
Both remain in federal custody.

Eva Lucie Gutierrez, 22, of Las Cruces who is free on conditions of release, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and making a false statement in the acquisition of firearms and faces up to 10 years in federal prison.

And Ricardo Gutierrez, 25, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, three counts of making false statements in the acquisition of firearms, and three counts of smuggling firearms from the United States. He is free on a $10,000 unsecured bond pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled, and faces up to 50 years in federal prison.

Sentencing for the five guilty parties has not yet been scheduled.

The El Paso U.S. Attorney's Office, which unexpectedly took over the prosecution from the New Mexico U.S. Attorney's Office in June, has been tight-lipped about the court proceedings, telling the Sun-News in a written statement: "We will not be commenting on any aspects of the investigation, our prosecutorial decision-making process or potential outcomes."

Ashley Meeks can be reached at (575) 541-5462.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_18521218

RELATED

N.M. police chief, mayor, trustee caught in federal sweep

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-230949.html

Related:

Ex-DEA Official Details Zetas' Texas Border Gun Smuggling
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-244059-.html

Feds Call Meeting with Journalist Who Reported Human Remains and Cartel Weapon Build up with U.S. Ties
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-243990-.html