Local News in Brief : Would-Be Arms Seller Is Given Probation
A Van Nuys man who admitted helping set up an abortive sale of explosives, drugs and silencer-equipped firearms outside Taft High School in Woodland Hills last December was sentenced in federal court Monday to five years’ probation.
Danny Roman, 41, had earlier pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles to conspiracy to transfer firearms.
He was accused of putting federal undercover agents, posing as persons in the market for illegal arms, in touch with John R. Sargent, 32, and Edward S. Pajak, 37, of Simi Valley.
On Dec. 10, police arrested Sargent and Pajak on suspicion of attempting to sell them plastic explosives;PCP, or phencyclidine, and several handguns from the trunk of their car in the Taft parking lot.
After the arrests, police blocked off a quarter-mile stretch of Ventura Boulevard for more than two hours while the explosives were being removed.
Both Sargent and Pajak have pleaded guilty to charges in the case. Sargent is to be sentenced June 22 and Pajak on May 19.
As a condition of probation, Judge Consuelo B. Marshall ordered Roman to perform 300 hours of community service.
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