Maximum punishment for gun smuggling mayor

“Former New Mexico Town Mayor Pleads Guilty to Gun Smuggling Published July 13, 2011 Associated Press The former mayor of the New Mexico border town of Columbus has pleaded guilty to federal gun smuggling charges. U.S. Attorney John E. Murphy announced Wednesday that 51-year-old Eddie Espinoza has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, three counts of making false statements in the acquisition of firearms, and three counts of smuggling firearms from the United States. Murphy says Espinoza entered the plea Tuesday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge William P. Lynch in Las Cruces. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled. Espinoza, the town's police chief and a Columbus trustee were among 12 people arrested in March in a federal sting. Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/...muggling/#ixzz1S2abIqMX”

“Legislation waiting to be approved by Gov. Rick Perry creates new state punishments for smuggling weapons illegally across theTexas-Mexico border. Attorney General Greg Abbott, Sen. John Caronaof Dallas and Rep. Frank Corte of San Antonio say the bill will give more legal tools to state law officers. Most of the guns smuggled into Mexico and sold to criminals come from Texas, where buying a gun is easy. Mexico has strict gun-control laws. Smuggling guns that were knowingly acquired illegally would now be a third-degree felony in Texas, and a second-degree felony if three or more firearms are involved. The legislation unanimously passed the Senate last month and the House last week. Carona said the law "will help stem the flow of weapons out of our state and into the hands of the dangerous Mexican drug cartels." Before passage of the bill, illegal firearms trafficking was not a state crime, according to Abbott's office. Abbott said the legislation does not apply to legally obtained weapons. "This law doesn't do anything with regard to law-abiding citizens, who follow the law in obtaining a gun. What it does, though, it strikes a blow against those who are obtaining guns illegally and then transporting those to Mexico," Abbott said. Federal law prohibits firearms from being taken across the border into Mexico. The state legislation defines unlawful weapons as contraband, so smuggled weapons could be subject to asset forfeiture proceedings. The gun smuggling legislation is SB2225. Copyright Associated Press”