Ex-mayor of Columbus, NM border town out from prison early

The former mayor of a New Mexico border town has been released after serving part of his sentence for his role in a smuggling ring that shipped 200 guns to Mexican drug cartels.

The Albuquerque Journal (http://bit.ly/1bZeAQq ) reports that former Columbus Mayor Eddie Espinoza served about a year of the 51-month sentence he received in 2012.

Bureau of Prisons spokesman Ed Ross says Espinoza was released Nov. 26 for good conduct and will remain under probation supervision for three years.

Espinoza was among a dozen defendants who pleaded guilty in the case.

Espinoza pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, three counts of making false statements in the acquisition of firearms and three counts of smuggling firearms from the United States.