Denisa Manga, 21, and her younger brother Julio, 18, were arrested in Windsor in June as part of the wrap-up of a nine-month police investigation

Denisa Manga, 21, and her younger brother Julio, 18, were arrested in Windsor in June as part of the wrap-up of a nine-month police investigation into cross-border gun smuggling that also resulted in the arrests in Michigan of five Detroit men. Investigators seized ammunition magazines, 235 rounds of ammo and 27 guns - 11 loaded - in downtown Windsor. Police intercepted another 10 guns in Detroit that they say were headed here. It was the largest illegal gun seizure in Windsor history.All charges against Julio Manga were dropped. He sat in the courtroom with the siblings' parents during the sentencing by Ontario Court Justice Guy DeMarco.
Windsor Police Service Supt. Dave Pickford displays illegal handguns at a press conference Tuesday, June 10, 2008. Windsor Police and other law enforcement agencies have cut the supply line of an organized gun smuggling ring and have arrested two Windsor residents.The court heard that Denisa Manga served as courier on two occasions, delivering handguns, some of them loaded, to undercover officers in Windsor on Feb. 5 and 13. The first time, the cops paid $2,200 for two 9mm guns, paying Manga an additional $500 for delivery, while on the second time, they paid $5,000 for four guns, which included $600 to Manga."That was a very serious crowd you were running with," said DeMarco. "Those weapons are used principally to kill people or attempt to kill people," he said.Before sentencing, Manga told the court: "I would like to apologize to everyone, especially my family."
The judge handed her a 67-month sentence after giving her the standard two-for-one credit for the 2.5 months already spent in custody. Assistant Crown attorney Roger Dietrich said the prosecution was seeking a sentence in the range of six to eight years.DeMarco also handed Manga concurrent five-year sentences for Canada Customs charges related to the offence, he prohibited Manga from possessing weapons for the rest of her life and ordered her to submit a blood sample to police.
"She has learned a very, very significant lesson," said defence lawyer Patrick Ducharme.