Ex-Philippine Justice, Son Sentenced in Smuggling
A retired Philippine Supreme Court justice and his son were sentenced Monday in Los Angeles to a year in prison for trying to smuggle hundreds of guns into their homeland.
Antonio Paredes, 65, of Long Beach, and Quintin Paredes III, 42, of the Philippines, also were fined $6,000 each by U.S. District Judge A. Wallace Tashima.
Antonio Paredes is the former vice governor of Abra province. His son wa a lawyer in Manila.
The men pleaded guilty in August to exporting guns without permits.
They were charged in an attempt to smuggle 371 pistols and 500,000 rounds of ammunition into the Philippines.
Assistant U.S. Atty. Carol Gillam said authorities were investigating allegations that the guns were intended for opponents of Philippine President Corazon Aquino. Defense attorney Ronald Litt dismissed the allegations and said the motive was profit.
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