5 accused of buying guns on behalf of gang members

Published 11:25 am Thursday, May 15, 2014

MINNEAPOLIS — Five people face federal charges alleging they conspired to buy guns on behalf of gang members involved in robberies and drug deals.

Reports said a fired Hennepin County corrections officer, a Minneapolis schools cook and a man charged in a shooting that wounded an 8-year-old girl are among those indicted Wednesday.

According to an investigation, at least seven weapons, large amounts of ammunition were purchased, with orders often placed in coded conversations over jail telephone lines.

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The weapons turned up in local crimes, and agents said they are not discounting the possibility that more guns will be traced back to the straw purchasers or other buyers.

Federal authorities said this is the first large-scale conspiracy case involving the straw purchase of firearms to be prosecuted in Minnesota.