CHICAGO — A Chicago police officer accused of using his law enforcement status to purchase guns as part of a smuggling operation is now facing federal charges.

According to a recently unsealed indictment, Chicago police officer Kevin Rodriguez and his co-defendant Diego Valdez have each been charged in connection with a scheme to purchase firearms only available to law enforcement in order to smuggle them down to Mexico.

Illinois law bans the purchase of assault weapons by private citizens, but there are exceptions for law enforcement officials.

Prosecutors alleged that as part of the scheme, Rodriguez purchased the guns under false pretenses by allegedly lying on federal documents regarding who they were being purchased for.

According to prosecutors, on multiple occasions between Sept

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