SAN DIEGO (CN) - Two National Guardsmen pleaded guilty Thursday to illegally selling powerful guns, some of them military-issued, to a man who said he was a member of a Mexican drug cartel.
The guardsmen made one sale while wearing Army uniforms, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Both worked at the Army National Guard Armory in La Mesa.
Jaime Casillas, 22, of El Cajon, and Andrew Reyes, 34, of La Mesa, both face up to 5 years in federal prison for selling guns without a license, and Reyes another 5 years for unlicensed transportation of firearms.
They sold the guns to an undercover ATF agent who told them he was a cartel member and that the guns were headed for Mexico, according to the U.S. attorney.
Reyes admitted he sold an AK-47 rifle, three AR-15 rifles, and four high-capacity .223-caliber rifle magazines, believing the guns were destined for Mexico.
Casillas admitted he sold a .40-caliber pistol and an AR-15, according to the men's plea agreements.
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