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Texas man charged with giving gun to felon father

SAN ANTONIO, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- The son of a Texas man accused of selling weapons to Mexican drug cartels has been charged with providing a gun to his father, who is a felon, officials say.

Michael Damon Rodriguez was indicted Friday in San Antonio, the San Antonio Express-News reported.

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The charges, made public Monday, accuse Rodriguez of selling guns without a license and acquiring a gun he later gave to his father, Manuel "Manny" Rodriguez.

The elder Rodriguez later sold the weapon, a Century Arms AK-47 variant, at a gun show, officials allege.

An agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives testified at a hearing for Manny Rodriguez the gun was seized in Mexico in July from members of the Zetas cartel.

Federal agents said they found a "small arsenal" when they raided the Rodriguez home in September. Manny Rodriguez was charged at the time with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

He served almost four years in prison for selling guns without a license in California, authorities said.

The September raid also found more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition, 76 guns and $15,000 in cash, authorities dais.

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Federal officials say they have no evidence either Rodriquez knew their guns would end up in the hands of Mexican cartels.

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