Thread: Hundreds of firearms seized in raid of Phoenix gun store

Hundreds of firearms seized in raid of north Phoenix gun store
33 commentsby Sean Holstege - May. 6, 2008 12:01 PM
The Arizona Republic
Federal agents raided a north Phoenix gun store Tuesday as police arrested its owner and two Mexican men who are accused of trafficking hundreds of weapons to drug cartels south of the border.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents said X-Caliber Guns store owner George Iknadosian was aware he was selling weapons to drug cartels. He was arrested at his Glendale home and is accused of fraud, money laundering and running an illegal enterprise.

Phoenix and Mesa police arrested two brothers whom they accuse of gun running: Hugo Gamez and Cesar Gamez, who live in the Valley. They are Mexican citizens who live in the United States as legal residents.

Tuesday's action caps an 11-month undercover investigation. The bust is noteworthy because agents rarely target gun stores and because they are certain that 650 weapons, including around 250 AK-47 replicas, ended up in the hands of the Sinaloa cartel. One specialized handgun was traced to X-Caliber when the Mexican army arrested the cartel's most senior enforcer, Alfredo Beltran Leyva in Culiacán in January.

Agents spent the morning sifting through records at the store on North Cave Creek Road south of Cactus Road. They were looking for evidence of further alleged gun sales to the Gamez brothers or whether Iknadosian had ties to other suspected gun runners.

The Arizona Attorney General's Office is expected to release further details at a 2 p.m. press conference.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... 06-CP.html

I certainly hope they won't be Legal residence after the serve their time....deport them!

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents said X-Caliber Guns store owner George Iknadosian was aware he was selling weapons to drug cartels

But he was 'hard working' and only 'looking for a better life' for his family.........is that arguement justification when the shoe is on the other foot?

Phoenix and Mesa police arrested two brothers whom they accuse of gun running: Hugo Gamez and Cesar Gamez, who live in the Valley. They are Mexican citizens who live in the United States as legal residents.

So the Gamez brothers are legal residents in the U.S. Another example of what great background checks are performed before granting anyone legal residency in the U.S.

"The United States shall guarantee to every state in this union a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them against invasion; and on application of the legislature, or of the executive (when the legislature cannot be convened) against domestic violence." Article IV Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution

Dang! I am surprised the ACLU and La Ratsa haven’t filed a complaint yet for violating illegal alien’s 2nd amendment rights under US law.

Originally Posted by Bulldogger

Dang! I am surprised the ACLU and La Ratsa haven’t filed a complaint yet for violating illegal alien’s 2nd amendment rights under US law.

Give them time "Bulldogger" of course the Mexican government may come in to protect them.

Published: 05.07.2008

ATF: Drug cartels got Phoenix store's guns
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
PHOENIX — A Phoenix gun store raided by federal and state officials Tuesday provided hundreds of assault rifles and other guns to violent drug cartels in Mexico, where such weapons are used in deadly confrontations between rival cartels and against law enforcement officers, officials said.
The gun store's owner, George Iknadosian, 46, was arrested following the raid, as were two Mexican brothers who authorities say recruited "straw buyers" to go into X Caliber Guns and purchase weapons that would then be trafficked to the drug cartels.
Iknadosian knew where the guns would end up, said Carlos Baixauli, a special agent with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. He said Iknadosian sold at least 650 firearms to drug cartels through the straw buyers.
"This is not just taking guns to Mexico," Phoenix police Assistant Chief Andy Anderson said. "This is putting guns in the hands of drug dealers and human smugglers. ... This is a despicable crime."
Arizona ATF Chief Bill Newell called the seizure of 1,300 weapons from X Caliber and Iknadosian's Glendale home rare and important, saying it takes only one gun to kill someone.
"There's a war going on in Mexico, and it's a war between the drug cartels themselves, against law enforcement, against the military — and make no mistake about it, it affects us here along the border, as well," Newell said. "We share this border and we share this problem."
The investigation into X Caliber Guns began 11 months ago after authorities traced some guns involved in crimes, including homicide, in Mexico to the store, Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard said.
Since then, undercover ATF agents and Phoenix police detectives have gone into X Caliber and bought guns after indicating they were to be trafficked to Mexico, Baixauli said.
Agents raided the store Tuesday and arrested Iknadosian and the two Mexican brothers.
Baixauli said the brothers, identified as Hugo Miguel Gamez, 26, and Cesar Bojorguez Gamez, 28, worked for a major Mexican drug cartel and were legally living in the United States.
The three were in the custody of Phoenix police and face charges including conducting an illegal enterprise, misconduct involving weapons, money laundering, forgery and fraudulent schemes.

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/printDS/237860


I would love for an investigate reporter to explain to us how two Mexcian national brothers who work for a major drug cartel, legally live in the United States????

May 7, 2:45 PM EDT

3 accused of supplying drug cartels appear in Phoenix court

By AMANDA LEE MYERS
Associated Press Writer

PHOENIX (AP) -- Three men accused of supplying hundreds of assault rifles and other guns to violent Mexican drug cartels have made their first court appearance in Phoenix.

George Iknadosian, 46, the owner of X Caliber Guns in north Phoenix, is accused of knowingly selling guns to "straw purchasers" paid to give the guns to members of drug cartels.

Iknadosian appeared in Maricopa County Superior Court on Tuesday evening. His bond was set at $75,000, and his next hearing was set for May 13, when he is scheduled to enter a plea.

Two Mexican brothers accused of recruiting straw purchasers to buy Iknadosian's guns also appeared. Bond for Hugo Miguel Gamez, 26, and Cesar Bojorquez Gamez, 28, was set for $100,000.

They also are scheduled to enter pleas next week.

It was unclear whether Iknadosian and the Gamez brothers had lawyers. The three were being held in the Maricopa County jail. The sheriff's office did not immediately answer a request to interview the men.

Assault rifles and other high caliber weapons are a hot commodity among Mexican drug cartels, who use the weapons in deadly confrontations between rival cartels and against law enforcement officers.

Officials with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives say Iknadosian knew where the guns would end up, and sold at least 650 firearms to drug cartels through the fake buyers.

The 11-month investigation into X Caliber Guns began after authorities traced some guns involved in crimes in Mexico to the store. In that time, undercover ATF agents and Phoenix police detectives have gone into X Caliber and bought guns after indicating they were to be trafficked to Mexico, officials said.

Iknadosian and the Gamez brothers face state charges including conducting an illegal enterprise, misconduct involving weapons, money laundering, forgery and fraudulent schemes.

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