Welterweight champion Robert Guerrero arrested on gun charge

WBC welterweight champion Robert Guerrero, who was in New York this week promoting his May 4 fight against unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr., was arrested Thursday at John F. Kennedy International Airport when he tried to take a gun onto a plane.

Police said the 30-year-old boxer from Gilroy, Calif., had a box with an unloaded .40-caliber handgun and three unloaded magazines that he tried to check with a ticket agent.

Although the gun had been registered by Guerrero in California, it’s illegal in New York to carry a weapon that is not licensed there.

Queens Dist. Atty. Richard Brown, who said Guerrero was arraigned Thursday, didn’t pull any punches when chastising the boxer for his actions.

“I hope that Mr. Guerrero fights better than he thinks,” Brown said in a statement. “For anyone who hasn’t gotten the message, let me be crystal clear: You cannot bring an unlicensed weapon -- loaded or unloaded -- into this county or this city. And if you do, you will be arrested and face felony charges.”

Guerrero, whose next court appearance is scheduled for May 14, faces up to four years in prison if convicted.

“We are very pleased Robert Guerrero was released on his own recognizance this afternoon in the wake of this incident and that he is on his way back to Las Vegas to continue training for his highly anticipated May 4 bout against Mayweather,” said a statement released by Guerrero’s camp in association with Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions.

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Internet and wire reports contributed to this story.