Vail Border Patrol Agent Sentenced For Theft Of Firearm Parts, Possession of Machinegun

Jesus Manuel Franco, a former United States Border Patrol Agent, 39, of Vail, Arizona, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment for theft of firearm parts and equipment valued at approximately $100,000 and for the unlawful possession and transfer of two machinegun conversion devices. Franco had been previously found guilty of these offenses after a jury trial.

The evidence at trial demonstrated that in 2014, Franco accepted a temporary assignment to the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Armory in Harper’s Ferry, W. Va. During a two-month period, Franco unlawfully transferred 47 boxes of firearm parts and equipment from the Armory to the Wilcox, Ariz. CBP Station without authorization and for personal use. One of the boxes transferred by Franco contained two machine gun conversion devices that qualified under federal law as machineguns. Franco also charged the government for shipping costs.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General.

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