2 convicted of trading guns for drugs

Associated Press

A federal jury convicted two men on charges of trying to trade a machine gun and assault weapons to an undercover agent posing as a Mexican cartel operative in exchange for cocaine and marijuana.

Randy Vana Haile Jr., 29, and Mark Anthony Beckford, 43, could face at least 35 years in prison.

Authorities say an undercover agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives met with the two men in April 2009 in Atlanta and claimed to be looking for firearms for a Mexican cartel.

They say in May 2009 the two sought to trade $70,000 and several firearms for about 1,000 pounds of marijuana and five kilograms of cocaine.

ATF Special Agent in Charge Gregory Gant said the men "arrived armed to the teeth to conduct a major drug deal on the streets of metro Atlanta."