Thursday, December 13, 2012

Gun buyer connected to Fast & Furious, Brian Terry's death gets 57 months in prison

An Arizona judge on Wednesday sentenced a man to 57 months in prison for his part in the gun-smuggling ring that is connected to the death of a U.S. Border Patrol agent and was the target of the Justice Department’s failed Operation Fast and Furious. Jaime Avila Jr. pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy and dealing guns without a federal license. The 25-year-old Avila bought two rifles found at the scene of the fatal shooting of Agent Brian Terry north of the Arizona-Mexico border. He also must undergo treatment for drug and alcohol abuse while in prison, as part of the sentencing.  U.S. District Judge James Teilborg said Avila has shown remorse, but could have spared the lives of Terry and others. Teilborg was also scheduled Wednesday to sentence five other men who admitted serving as straw buyers for the ring. Operation Fast and Furious started in 2009 and was run by an Arizona field office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The agency allowed roughly 1,400 guns to enter the black market in hopes the sales would lead them to cartel organizers. However, many of the guns turned up at crime scenes across Mexico and the United States and most were not recovered...more

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