LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — A federal jury in Las Cruces has acquitted a Deming-area family of charges they helped smuggle guns to Mexican cartels. But three of the four Reese family members were convicted Wednesday of lesser charges of making false statements on federal firearms sales forms.
Rick Reese, his wife, Terri, and their sons, Ryin and Remington -- the owners of New Deal Shooting Sports -- were accused of selling weapons and ammunition to an informant despites repeated claims by the man that the arms were bound for a Mexican drug cartel.
The 20-year-old Remington was acquitted on all counts. His 25-year-old brother Ryin was convicted of two counts of making false statements about gun sales while his parents were convicted of one count each of making false statements. The judge threw out money laundering charges against the family.
Defense attorneys claimed the family was set up by a self-proclaimed cartel member who made a deal with federal prosecutors after being arrested on marijuana distribution charges.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.