http://www.kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=4331989

Jan 7, 2006, 11:22 AM EST

A Nogales man has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for trying to buy hand grenades from undercover agents.

Sergio Noriega, 44, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of unregistered firearms in May 2005, authorities said.

He was sentenced Thursday in U.S. District Court in Phoenix.

Federal prosecutors said Noriega contacted an undercover agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in July 2004 about buying hand grenades.

Noriega spoke with the agent about the potential kill range of hand grenades and asked if the grenades were capable of blowing up two vehicles and also told the agent that his partners were mafia in Mexico who were involved in growing marijuana and distributing marijuana and cocaine, authorities said.

Three days later during a meeting with the agent, Noriega showed him a photo of two rifles and told the agent he needed them to shoot down helicopters, according to authorities.

Noriega paid $6,000 for a box containing 30 grenades and was arrested, prosecutors said.