Prosecutors alleged Marco Garmo sold guns for extra money and to curry favor with potential donors for a planned sheriff election campaign.
A former sheriff’s captain charged with selling “off roster” guns available only to law enforcement admitted to long-standing corruption in a plea agreement Tuesday., pleaded guilty in San Diego federal court to one count of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a federal license. He faces a maximum of five years in prison when sentenced.
Investigators alleged Garmo — who had risen to captain of the Rancho San Diego sheriff’s station — wasn’t merely selling a few weapons but instead was engaged in a clear case of gun trafficking. One of his frequent customers was prominent San Diego jeweler Leo Hamel, a gun enthusiast who pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting last year. Hamel has agreed to forfeit the roughly 200 firearms and some 100,000 rounds of ammunition seized from his East County estate and his business. He is set to be sentenced in February.
According to the indictment, the dispensary prepared for the raid by emptying its shelves. When asked later about the tip-off, Garmo lied to investigators, saying he would never put his fellow deputies “in harm’s way,” according to the plea agreement.
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