By Jacques Billeaud
Associated Press
PHOENIX — A man accused of buying two rifles found at the scene of the fatal shooting of a federal agent near the U.S.-Mexico border is set to change his plea in the botched government gun smuggling case known as Operation Fast and Furious.
Jaime Avila Jr. faces charges of dealing guns without a license and making false statements in firearms purchases as part of the investigation.
Avila had previously pleaded not guilty.
He is accused of working in a ring accused of buying guns and smuggling them into Mexico for use by the Sinaloa drug cartel.
Authorities say two AK-47 variants bought by Avila were found after a 2010 shootout that killed a U.S. Border Patrol agent.
Copyright 2012 Associated Press