McALLEN, Texas (AP) — A 27-year-old South Texas man has been sentenced to more than six years in prison for smuggling munitions such as barrels for grenade launchers into Mexico.
Federal prosecutors announced Tuesday that Eric Perez-Bazan of Hidalgo was sentenced in federal court in McAllen. He pleaded guilty last month to violating a federal law against exporting munitions.
Prosecutors say that for at least five years he was smuggling the grenade launcher barrels. He also acknowledged recruiting others to move firearms across the border.
At one point Perez-Bazan became aware investigators were monitoring him and fled into Mexico. He later was taken into custody when he tried to cross back into Texas.
