TUCSON, AZ – A Mexican police officer was sentenced on Tuesday to eight months in federal prison for unlawful possession of ammunition.
Santiago Gutierrez-Othon, 51, of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, was arrested after authorities observed him leaving the Pima County Fairgrounds with a box of ammunition he purchased at a gun show on March 8.
Officers later stopped Gutierrez-Othon’s vehicle for a traffic violation and asked if he had purchased any ammunition.
Gutierrez-Othon reportedly denied the allegation but when authorities searched his vehicle, they found 500 rounds of ammunition for an AR-15 assault rifle in the trunk of the car.
According to authorities, Gutierrez-Othon admitted to purchasing the ammunition after the rounds were found.
He also reportedly told officers that he had planned to bribe Mexican customs authorities in order to bring the ammo into Mexico.
