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LA County Sheriff's Employee Accused Of Acting As Straw Buyer In Gun Sale That Led To Homicide

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Criminal charges have been filed against an LA County Sheriff's Department employee in connection with the illegal sale of a gun that was later used to commit a homicide in Riverside County.

Amelia Suarez, a civilian employed with the LA County Sheriff's Department as a security officer at West Los Angeles College, and Barkochba Botach, owner of Botach Tactical in Leimert Park, face several criminal charges in connection with the illegal sale and purchase of two firearms with large capacity magazines, Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer announced Tuesday.

According to Feuer, Suarez acted as a straw purchaser for another person by claiming she was buying two firearms for herself on a federal firearms purchase application. The two Smith & Wesson 9mm pistols from Botach Tactical were sold with three magazines, each with a 17-found capacity.

Botach allegedly gave Suarez an improper exemption available only to sworn law enforcement personnel, allowing her to buy the large-capacity magazines and more than one handgun in a 30-day period.

Suarez then turned around and sold one of the guns to a longtime family who used it in a Riverside County murder earlier this year, Feuer said.

"Our gun laws can prevent tragedies. But when those laws are circumvented there can be dire consequences," Feuer said in a statement. "It's critical that firearms dealers comply with rules designed to protect the public."

Suarez and Botach are both scheduled to be arraigned in court on Oct. 15.

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