Federal weapons charges can come with serious consequences. From owning illegal weapons, to selling or trading illegal firearms on the black market, individual’s accused of federal firearms offenses face harsh penalties from long prison sentences to hefty fines. California readers may find the following story about a California border patrol officer recently accused of shipping military grade weapons overseas interesting.
It was recently reported that a United States Customs and Border Patrol officer in California was arrested for conspiring with his two brothers to ship military grade weapons to the Philippines. The California man’s brother, a 10-year veteran of the New York Police Department, was arrested in New York the other week. Authorities reportedly caught the police officer with a large cache of weapons allegedly intended for the Philippines at his home.
Since their arrests, both men have reportedly been released on bail. The NYPD officer was released from a New York City jail on a $300,000 bail and the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officer was also released on bail by a California judge. In addition to the two men recently arrested, authorities are still seeking a third brother. The man is believed to be in the Philippines. The three men face up to five years in jail for weapons trafficking and conspiracy.
The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms is the federal agency tasked with enforcing U.S. law concerning the illegal use and trafficking of firearms. The ATF takes federal weapons crimes very seriously and the U.S. Department of Justice prosecutes federal firearms offenses with equal enthusiasm. With so much at stake, individuals accused of federal weapons offenses may want to to seek representation.
Source: New York Daily News, “NYPD cop charged with gun smuggling could face 5 years in prison,” John Marzulli, Sept. 12, 2013