A South Texas man linked to smuggling more than 600 guns into Mexico has been sentenced to five years in a U.S. prison.
Jose Maria Deleon of Camp Wood was sentenced Wednesday in Dallas. Deleon earlier this year pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the unlawful manufacturing of firearms.
Prosecutors say Deleon in 2010 and 2011 was involved with manufacturing guns without a license and then selling those firearms. Deleon bought AR-15 and AK firearm receivers that needed to be manufactured to become fully functional weapons for resale.
Investigators say Deleon was part of a ring that smuggled hundreds of the firearms into Mexico. Only about 50 of the guns have been recovered.
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