LAREDO, Texas (AP) — Two men, both Mexican nationals, have pleaded guilty to attempting to smuggle 652 assault rifle magazines into Mexico.
A U.S. prosecutor announced Thursday that Julio Cesar Flores-Martinez and Francisco Padilla-Perez admitted trying to smuggle the rifle magazines.
Homeland Security investigators say undercover U.S. agents posing as suppliers contacted the buyer. They say the 41-year-old Padilla agreed to pay $19,500 cash for 650 AK-47 rifle magazines. Padilla also said said a truck driver, 46-year-old Flores, would attempt to smuggle the rifle magazines into Mexico on an international bridge in Laredo.
According to court documents, U.S. officers intercepted Flores on the bridge and recovered the 652 rifle magazines.
Both men face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. No sentencing date has been set.
