In 2009, the Phoenix division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) noticed a large number of legally purchased guns being transported across the border and traced the transfer to a large Mexican drug cartel. The ATF allowed for the weapons to be transported across borders in order to locate the cartel in a secret follow and trace method. The gun-walking went disastrously wrong when border patrol officer Brian Terry was killed bu five of the smugglers during the investigation.
The case soon came to called "Fast and Furious" and recently resulted in holding US Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of congress.
Late Monday, The Federal Justice Department announced that they would grant a $1 million grant to anyone who can turn in or capture four of the five of the Mexican drug and gun smugglers responsible for Terry's murder. The fifth 'bandit brother,' Manuel Osorio-Arellanes was arrested the same day of the shooting occurred.
An indictment for all five charging them with first degree murder, second degree murder, conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, use and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, assault on a federal officer and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person was unsealed in a Federal Court in Tuscon on Tuesday
Laura E. Duffy, U.S. Attorney General for Southern District of California where the "bandit brothers" will be prosecuted told reporters in a press conference Tuesday, "Brian Terry was truly an agent's agent... the very best" her office had to offer. "We will not rest until these individuals are brought to justice," as reported by ABC News.
