Thread: Three plead guilty in Mexico weapons deal

Three plead guilty in Mexico weapons deal

By Kristina Davis
Friday, March 18, 2011 at 3:52 p.m.

SAN DIEGO — Three men charged in connection with a Mexican weapons and explosives trafficking operation in Imperial County pleaded guilty Friday to a federal firearms charge.

Yoahjan Lara Flores, Arturo Lara and Alfredo Rubio Lara face up to five years in prison and $250,000 fines each for their guilty plea of conspiracy to possess an unregistered firearm or destructive device. Sentencing has been set in San Diego federal court for June 6.

Court records say an undercover agent with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives posed as a weapons trafficker and met and spoke with the trio several times in September. The grenade launcher, grenades and an M-4 rifle the trio was trying to purchase were destined for Mexico, federal authorities said.

On Sept. 29, the $1,900 deal for a grenade launcher and several deactivated grenades was made in an El Centro parking lot. Lara Flores and Lara were arrested after the buy; Rubio Lara was arrested months later.

kristina.davis@uniontrib.com • (619) 542-4591 • Twitter @kristinadavis

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011 ... pons-deal/

deport them as well. even if they are legal, revoke their right to be here