By KRWG News
Las Cruces – The wife of a former Columbus village trustee indicted in connection with a smuggling ring that federal authorities say funneled hundreds of guns into Mexico has pleaded not guilty.
The Las Cruces Sun-News reports (http://bit.ly/v3ewoU) that 30-year-old Gabrielle Gutierrez entered her plea Tuesday to U.S. Magistrate Court Judge William P. Lynch.
A federal grand jury in Las Cruces last month returned a five-count indictment against Gutierrez, the wife of ousted Columbus village trustee Blas "Woody" Gutierrez.
She's accused of conspiracy, making false statements in connection with the acquisition of firearms and smuggling goods from the U.S.
The indictment alleges she conspired with her husband and others from January to March 2010 to buy firearms that would eventually be smuggled to Mexico.
She is free on conditional release pending trial.
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Information from: Las Cruces Sun-News, http://www.lcsun-news.com
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.