National Security

Two Army soldiers facing charges for selling weapons headed to Mexico: report

Two U.S. Army soldiers are facing charges for selling weapons headed to Mexico, BuzzFeed reported Thursday.

According to a filing in Texas federal court, Tyler Sumlin and Jason Jarvis are reportedly charged with eight counts including conspiracy to smuggle goods from the US, transferring firearms to an out-of-state resident and transporting explosive materials without a license.

The indictment was filed in December but not reported on until Thursday. Newsweek reported that the Army was attempting to keep the case quiet, when another solider found the charge sheet and indictments in the Public Access to Court Electronic Records database.

{mosads}Sumlin and Jarvis took firearms and explosives to El Paso, Texas, where they intended to sell them, knowing that they would be exported to Mexico.

Instead, they sold the military grade material to undercover agents with Homeland Security Investigations, according to the indictment.

The complaint said that the two men told agents said they had coordinated the sale of multiple firearms with a buyer in El Paso.

Sumlin said he was aware they were going to be sent to Mexico and was expecting a payment of $12,000. Jarvis told authorities he was expecting to earn $2,000 for his participation in the sale.

The Army did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment on the charges.