Mexican Cartel Member Testifies Against Reese Family in Gun Sales Trial
Read it all here.
Wearing an ironed blue dress shirt and khakis, Jose Roman did not look like a mid-level associate of the Juarez Drug Cartel as he testified Thursday in the second day of the Reese family trial.
Yet, Roman, 31, talked openly in U.S. District Court [in Las Cruces, NM] about how in 2010 he transported marijuana, and purchased assault rifles and ammunition for La Linea, the Juarez Cartel’s enforcement arm.
Roman, the federal government’s key witness, also testified about purchasing 28 firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition in 2010 from the Reeses’ family gun store, New Deal Shooting Sports, in Deming. Roman said he even told some of the defendants that the firearms were bound for Mexico to battle a rival cartel.
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Roman’s allegations led federal authorities last year to investigate and charge Rick and Terri Reese, and their sons Ryin and Remington, with conspiracy, aiding and abetting smuggling, making false statements in connection with the acquisition of firearms, and money laundering.
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There have been complaints (from the defense in this case, for one) that this investigation was started in order to distract from Fast & Furious. That’s been denied, but it can’t be denied that this investigation went a little better than the Arizona one. They went after sellers instead of buyers, which seems to be a much easier case to make. I hope they get a conviction, and pursue more dirty gun dealers.
The trial continued today, but I haven’t seen any newer reports yet.