Man Pleads Innocent to Charges of Supplying Gangs With Guns
A Temecula truck driver pleaded innocent Monday to 21 federal firearms violations.
James Larry Simmons, 55, is accused by federal authorities of running an underground gun syndicate that supplied hundreds of inexpensive weapons to gang members and criminals in Orange County.
About 1,700 guns have been traced to Simmons, who was federally licensed as a firearms dealer but gave false information on his license application and used the falsely obtained license to acquire bulk quantities of guns at wholesale prices, according to the indictments.
Two co-defendants in the case, Lynnette Grove, 62, of Whittier and Sambeth So, 28, of Long Beach, also pleaded innocent. Police say the two were partners in the operation.
Before and after the hearing in U.S. District Court, about half a dozen picketers representing Orange County crime victims picketed outside, urging authorities to pursue a stiff punishment for Simmons.
If convicted on all counts, Simmons could face up to 200 years in prison and millions of dollars in fines.
Simmons, Grove and So are scheduled to return to court for trial on June 6.
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