The sister and a cousin of former Columbus village trustee Blas "Woody" Gutierrez have been sentenced for their roles in a border gun smuggling ring that authorities say was led by Gutierrez.
The Albuquerque Journal reports Federal Judge Robert Brack Monday sentenced 23-year-old community college student Eva Gutierrez to 21 months in prison for conspiracy and making false statements on gun-purchase documents.
Brack sentenced Gutierrez's cousin, Ricardo Gutierrez, to 27 months for making false statements, firearms smuggling and conspiracy.
Noting that neither has a criminal record, Brack said the cases show that drug-trafficking rings "don't have to go looking for monsters" to do little things for them.
The Gutierrezes, former Columbus police chief Angelo Vega and former mayor Mayor Eddie Espinoza were among more than a dozen defendants who pleaded guilty in the case.
Only Blas Gutierrez and Vega await sentencing.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.