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Pharr TX Man Sentenced to Prison for Lying to Buy Almost Two Dozen Firearms Destined for Mexico.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

McALLEN, Texas --(Ammoland.com)- Lying to buy almost two dozen firearms destined for Mexico has netted a Pharr, Texas, man a prison term, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today.

Jesus Rodriguez, 26, of Pharr, was sentenced today by Chief United States District Judge Ricardo Hinojosa to 40 months imprisonment to be followed by a two-year-term of supervised release. Rodriguez was convicted after pleading guilty on April 12, 2011, of lying on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Form 4473 when he acquired 20 firearms.

ATF agents initiated an investigation upon receiving information that Rodriguez appeared to be “straw” purchasing a firearm in November 2008. ATF agents subsequently learned that Rodriquez had purchased additional firearms and interviewed Rodriguez who admitted he had lied on the ATF forms when he purchased the firearms and stated the firearms were for him. Rodriguez admitted to forcing his wife to purchase firearms and stated he knew the firearms were destined for Mexico. Rodriguez purchased a total of 20 firearms over a seven-month period beginning November 2008. In handing down today’s sentence, Judge Hinojosa considered all of the firearms unlawfully purchased by Rodriguez.

Rodriguez has been in custody where he will remain pending transfer to a Bureau of Prisons facility where hewill serve his sentence. As a convicted felon, Rodriguez will be prohibited from even possessing a firearm or ammunition.

The prosecution of Lopez is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, an ongoing gun violence reduction initiative of the Department of Justice, which partners federal, state and local law enforcement agencies nationwide to engage in a unified effort to prosecute individuals who possess firearms or ammunition in violation of federal law.

The case was investigated by the ATF and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Steven Schammel.

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Off Grid Signs, LLC Supports Going Green through Solar-Powered Signs.

Central Texas Gun Works is Austin’s First Solar Business Sign

Central Texas Gun Works

AUSTIN, Texas --(Ammoland.com)- Recently, Texas has experienced difficulty in producing electricity, resulting in electrical shortages.

To offset the challenges, Off Grid Signs, LLC developed a sign that generates energy from solar-powered panels. Central Texas Gun Works (Centex Guns), owned by Michael Cargill, is the first business to adopt a solar-powered sign in Texas.

Austin’s first solar-energy-powered sign lit up on the evening of November 28, 2011 at Centex Guns, located at 321 W. Ben White Blvd, Suite 203, Austin, Texas 78704. Because the sign is independent from an electrical grid, it uses only sunlight during the daytime to charge the solar power source, which continues to illuminate the sign throughout the night. Thus, the solar-powered energy panels assist in eliminating the electrical load on Texas’ overburdened power supply.

Being off the electrical grid not only reduces operating costs for business owners like Cargill by eliminating the need to pay for electricity to light their business location’s sign, but it also enables companies to become more eco-friendly. Additionally, the adoption of green practices rewards business owners with government tax rebates and refunds.

Event Details

• Who: Off Grid Signs LLC and Central Texas Gun Works (Centex Guns) LLC
• What: Gun Store Goes Green
• Where: Central Texas Gun Works; 321 W. Ben White Blvd, Suite 203, Austin, Texas
• When: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 – 3:00PM-5:00PM

ABOUT OFF GRID SIGNS, LLC
Off Grid Signs, created by Dave Isaacs and Nick Raymond, pioneered the first “plug and play” solar power system for signs. They have 5 standard sizes that will handle most sign needs. They will also gladly build you a custom unit if one of their 5 standard sizes will not work for you. A sign in a necessity for every company, but paying to light it is not! Let them take your sign Off Grid so you can stop paying to light it. For more information on Off Grid Signs, LLC, visit http://www.offgridsigns.com.

ABOUT CENTRAL TEXAS GUN WORKS
Michael Cargill has served a Texas DPS-certified concealed handgun license (CHL) instructor for over six years and has over 20 years of firearms experience. He is also a NRA-certified Range Instructor and Chief Range Safety Officer. As of 2012, Michael has taught 1,426 applicants the required material to obtain a Texas CHL, and has a 99% success rate. In addition to his regular CHL classes, Michael holds several private classes for groups, including home owner associations, church groups, attorneys, judges, and the students, staff, and faculty of Texas Tech University and The University of Texas at Austin. Michael also teaches an informal education class at The University of Texas at Austin every semester. For more information about Central Texas Gun Works, visit www.centraltexasgunworks.com.

Filed under: Conservation News, Shooting Industry News by Ammoland 1 Comment »