United States Border Patrol Agent Sentenced to Prison for Theft of Firearm Parts and Unlawful Possession of Machinegun

     TUCSON, Ariz. – Yesterday, Jesus Manuel Franco, a  former United States Border Patrol Agent, 39, of Vail, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson, 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. The prosecution was handled by Jane L. Westby and Sarah B. Houston, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Tucson.

CASE NUMBER:            CR-16-00268-TUC-CKJ

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-19_Franco

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