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Jury convicts Brownsville customs officer in gun-buying scheme
Posted: 08.20.2012 at 3:09 PM
Action 4 News Staff

Members of the Action 4 News team worked together to bring you this report.

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Manuel Eduardo Peña // File Photo
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A trial for a Brownsville customs officer ended with a jury finding him guilty of buying guns for other people.

The four-day trial ended Monday morning when the jury for 38-year-old Manuel Eduardo Peña reached their verdict.

The jury found Peña guilty of two counts of making a false statement in a firearms records and one count of making a false statement to a federal agency.

Peña bought guns at local sporting goods stores for people other than himself, which is a federal crime.

The U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) officer claimed the weapons were a "communal purchase" for a deer hunting club between him and his friends.

Federal prosecutors reported that Peña has been a CBP officer for 12 years and that the charges were not related to his duties.

Peña remains free on bond but is expected to appear for sentencing before U.S. District Court Judge Hilda G. Tagle on November 19th.

The customs officer faces up to five years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine on each count.

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