U.S. Charges 2 Immigrants With Possessing Rifles

PHOENIX – Federal prosecutors in Arizona say two illegal immigrants from Mexico have been indicted after they were found to possess a combined 222 assault rifles and five pistols that authorities say were headed to Mexico.

Prosecutors said Thursday the two immigrants possessed the weapons in May and August, and that the guns were later seized in the border city of Laredo, Texas.

The indictment doesn't say whether the two -- Jose Beltran-Bermudez and Yazmin Arvayo-Palafox -- were present when the guns were seized. It also doesn't indicate where the weapons were bought.

The immigrants are charged with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm.

Beltran-Bermudez's attorney, Stephen Duncan, says his client will plead not guilty. Calls to Arvayo-Palafox's attorney weren't immediately returned Thursday.