An Albuquerque jury Friday convicted the husband of a federal prosecutor of tipping a band of border town gun smugglers to a criminal probe of their activities.
The Albuquerque Journal reports retired educator Danny Burnett was found guilty on two of three counts of leaking information about the probe into gun and drug smuggling by top officials in Columbus, N.M.
Burnett was charged with tipping off then-Police Chief Angelo Vega, who has pleaded guilty in the gun-smuggling case and is awaiting sentencing.
Prosecutors say because of Burnett's leak, federal agents were unable to put together a drug smuggling case against the defendants or capture the leader of the Juarez Cartel.
Burnett was allowed to remain free pending sentencing in January.
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