Marine heads to federal court because of war trophy case

[ericire12]

http://www.pe.com/ap_news/California/CA_Marines_War_Trophy_343897C.shtml

By CHELSEA J. CARTER

The Associated Press

SAN DIEGO

A Marine sergeant accused of bringing home an AK-47 assault rifle as a war trophy from Iraq is headed to federal court to face charges he failed to properly register the weapon.

Jury selection was set to begin Monday in the trial of Sgt. Leonardo San Juan, who is charged with one felony count of possession of an unregistered firearm.

The charges stem from accusations that San Juan, 31, brought back the AK-47 with him more than two years ago from his service in Iraq, according to a grand jury indictment filed in U.S. District Court in San Diego.

San Juan, of El Paso, Texas, has pleaded innocent to the charge. If convicted, he faces up to three years in prison and a discharge from the Marine Corps for having a felony conviction.

War trophies, per se, are not illegal for troops to bring home. But they must be approved by U.S. Central Command, which oversees troop deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, before they are brought into the United States.

[Ron J]

If he didn't get permission and the gun has full auto capabilities, he's in trouble.  Like owning any weapon with a giggle switch and you don't have the stamp, you are in trouble. 

[TAB]

he also violated general orders...

in short the guy is fooked, the only person to blame is himself.

[tombogan03884]

he also violated general orders...

in short the guy is fooked, the only person to blame is himself.

Yes, and a Sgt. should know better. By the way Ron, in this case Full auto or not is not relevant. The orders were to get trophies approved and he did not, so he is at least guilty of Failing to follow a lawful order.
Just goes to show, No group of people is perfect, even the Apostles contained an informer.


Just read the whole article, He's sunk.

[DDMac]

There was a laundromat in south Raleigh located in a public housing project where drug dealers and similar capitalists hung out. One night, shortly after the troops returned from liberating Kuwait, a young man fired about 30 rounds, full auto, at a rival standing in front of the dryer aisle. The City was very upset.. at the cost of repairing all those dryers. No blood anywhere. A full court press by locals and Feds determined that some of the troops at Ft. Bragg traded gear for a dozen British Sterlings and smuggled them home in vehicle gas tanks.. The Brits apparently had very loose small arms controls. 9 machine guns were recovered from the streets of the Capitol and the military prosecuted four or five soldiers under UCMJ. 3 are still out there.

Can't bring back a machine gun as a war trophy in any event.

Mac.

[Sponsor]

[Ron J]

Damn.  Knew that deal on that Sterling was too good to be true.   

[DDMac]

PVC!
Mac.