U.S. attorney for the District of Arizona announces gun trafficking charges

UPDATE (2:39 PM): A federal grand jury in Phoenix returned a more than 150-count indictment against 28 people in connection to trafficking guns last month.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Fernando Daniel Castro of Phoenix and certain co-conspirators "recruited others to purchase firearms from Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) in Arizona in exchange for payment."

The indictment alleged Castro sold some of the firearms, which included Glock 19 pistols and AK-styled rifles, "knowing or having reason to believe that they would be exported outside of the United States."

To learn more about the indictment, as well as other people charged in the case, click here.

PHOENIX (KYMA, NBC) - Timothy Courchaine, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona, is holding a press conference Tuesday afternoon.

In a press release, this is to announce arrests and charges related to a Homeland Security Task Force investigation "into straw purchasers and gun trafficking in the District of Arizona."

Joining U.S. Attorney Courchaine are Albert J. Gibes, Special Agent in Charge at the ATF Phoenix Field Division, Jason T. Stevens, Special Agent in Charge at Homeland Security Investigations-Arizona, and Chief John R. Morris with the U.S. Border Patrol Tucson Sector.

In addition, representatives from the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, IRS-Criminal Investigations and the DEA are also participating in the press conference.

To watch the livestream of the press conference, see attached video.