US NM: Columbus Officials Swept In Up Fed Firearms Raid

Las Cruces Sun-News, 11 Mar 2011 – LAS CRUCES – A police chief, a mayor, a village trustee and eight others, including a Mexican citizen, have been indicted for allegedly trafficking firearms in Do-a Ana and Luna counties to Mexico, U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales announced Thursday. Columbus Chief of Police Angelo Vega, Columbus Mayor Eddie Espinoza and Village Trustee Blas Gutierrez are three the 11 defendants charged in the 84-count federal indictment, which was unsealed Thursday afternoon after two-county raids that began in the early hours Thursday.