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10 charged in Mexican gun-running scheme

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Published: May 19, 2009 at 3:43 PM

HOUSTON, May 19 (UPI) -- Ten Houston men have been charged with conspiring to supply 150 military-style guns to Mexican drug trafficking organizations, U.S. officials say.

The U.S. attorney's office said in a release Monday some of the weapons had been recovered at crime scenes in Mexico but the whereabouts of most of the other weapons remain unknown.

The 11-count indictment charged the 10 defendants with conspiracy to make false material statements in the acquisition of firearms. Eight of the 10 defendants appeared in U.S. District Court in Houston Monday while warrants were still outstanding for the other two, officials said.

The defendants are accused to giving false statements to gun dealers to acquire scores of firearms, including numerous Bushmaster manufactured .223 caliber semi-automatic rifles and FN Herstal manufactured pistols and rifles chambered in the 5.7 x 28mm caliber.

Among those arrested were three brothers, Jesus Saul Pineda, 26, Miguel Angel Pineda, 22, and Juan Manuel Pineda, 24, who appeared in federal court Monday for arraignment and have been released on bond.

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