A former Palm Valley police officer has pleaded guilty to dealing firearms without a license.
Federal prosecutors said Ramon Martinez appeared before U.S. District Court Judge Hilda Tagle on Monday where he pleaded guilty to his role in a gun smuggling scheme.
The 37-year-old man was employed as a Palm Valley police officer when he bought guns for gun traffickers shipping guns to Mexico.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) began an investigation of the former officer when weapons were recovered in Mexico which traced back to Martinez and the gun smuggling ring.
Martinez admitted that he purchased multiple firearms from licensed dealers and private citizens and sold them to a third party for profit from February 2007 to May 2007.
Many of the guns were purchased over the internet.
Martinez now faces five years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 at his Jan. 28, 2009 sentencing.
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