4 sentenced for illegal gun buys for cartel

August 16, 2011 4:40 PM
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

McALLEN (AP) — Four men have been sentenced for their roles in illegally buying guns in the Valley that were allegedly destined for the Zetas drug gang in Mexico.

U.S. District Judge Ricardo Hinojosa gave a 10-year prison sentence to Jesus Salinas, the alleged "supervisor" of the straw buyers.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said Tuesday that Salinas, a 26-year-old from San Juan, was behind the straw purchase of 23 guns. Three other men were sentenced Monday to less than three years each.

Investigators from the Texas Department of Public Safety witnessed two of the men asking a gun dealer about how many guns they could buy. They later admitted that they had made many buys for a person who turned out to be Salinas, a convicted felon.

Salinas said he supplied the Zetas.

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