May 25, 2013
MOBILE, Ala. (AP) -- Authorities say a Texas man will be going to prison for trying to broker a deal for military-grade weapons.
The Press-Register reports (http://bit.ly/OgQjGd) that U.S. District Judge William Steele sentenced Julio Melendez to three and a half years in prison last week. He also was sentenced to three years of supervised released after his sentence.
Investigators said Melendez contacted an undercover agent in October and tried to set up a deal for 40 AK-47 rifles, as well as grenade launchers, grenades, night-vision goggles and pistols. Authorities say Melendez planned to ship the weapons to drug cartel leaders in Mexico.
Melendez had pleaded guilty in May to smuggling goods from the U.S. and conspiracy to export firearms.
