(News media doesn't even report names after conviction--why?)

Apr 30, 8:00 PM EDT

Three sentenced to prison in illegal firearms purchase

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- Federal prison sentences have been handed down against three men who illegally purchased firearms during a federal sting operation in Tucson.

The defendants include one Mexican national and two men from California. They were arrested in March of 2006.

A 26-count indictment charged the trio with possession of 26 fully automatic machines guns, three fragmentation grenades and a 40 millimeter grenade launcher.

According to evidence introduced at the sentencing hearings, the defendants came to Tucson to purchase these and other weapons on behalf of a major drug trafficking cartel.

The feds say the defendants paid undercover law enforcement agents $194,000 for the weapons and were arrested after they attempted to take possession of them.

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