City guns can equal stiff sentence

NEW YORK (AP) - A Manhattan appeals court says federal judges can give extra-stiff penalties to people who help bring illegal guns to big cities.

The case before the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals involves a man who got a prison sentence that was six months harsher than federal guidelines.

When he imposed the sentence in 2004, Brooklyn judge Charles Sifton said there was a "crying need" to deter gun trafficking into large metropolitan areas.

A three-judge appeals panel initially had overturned Sifton's ruling. But all of the judges then reheard the case, and on Thursday they ruled in Sifton's favor.

The defendant in this case was from Deerfield Beach, Fla. He was convicted of selling guns that were destined for New York City.