Ex-California National Guard member sold ghost guns, tipped off drug dealer to raids, feds say

Ruby Celly Uribe, a former member of the California National Guard counter-drug task force, was convicted of unlawfully possessing a machine gun and an unregistered short-barreled rifle. Federal prosecutors said she shared sensitive information about upcoming drug raids with a person she knew was involved in drug dealing, including time, location, and the number of units responding. Cellphone text messages recovered from the dealer’s phone supported the claim. Federal agents found the firearms during a search of her home. The short-barreled rifle was unlawful because it was under the 16-inch federal minimum, had been modified for full-automatic fire, and lacked a serial number. Additional cellphone data indicated she trafficked other untraceable “ghost guns,” and officials said she sold another illegal firearm in August 2022. The firearms were recovered, and sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 11 with up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

"During the trial, it was also revealed that Uribe leaked information about upcoming drug raids to a person she knew was involved with drug dealing, while she was a member of the task force, according to the news release. Cellphone text messages recovered in the operation from the drug dealer's phone revealed that Uribe was sharing sensitive information, including the time and location of the possible drug raids and how many units would be responding."

"The short-barreled rifle was deemed unlawful because it did not meet the minimum federal requirement of 16 inches. In addition, the rifle had been modified to fire in full-automatic mode as a machine gun and did not have a serial number - commonly known as a ghost gun. More cellphone data also revealed that Uribe was engaging in trafficking other ghost guns, including to a coworker on July 20, 2022."

"While preparing for the case, the FBI learned that Uribe sold another illegal firearm in August 2022, officials said. The firearms have been safely recovered. Uribe is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins on Sept. 11, and faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, at the discretion of the court and the federal sentencing guidelines."

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