UKIAH — A Merritt College basketball player and another man have been charged in Mendocino County in a case involving trading guns for marijuana, officials said Tuesday.

The so-called marijuana dealers were actually undercover law enforcement officers, authorities said.

During an investigation spanning several months, which ended with the two men being arrested April 25 in Oakland, undercover officers with the Mendocino County Major Crimes Task Force seized four assault rifles, some pistols and extended ammunition clips, authorities said.

Authorities did not say where the suspects obtained the weapons.

The suspects were identified as Matthew Williams, 20, of Oakland, a Merritt College basketball player who came to Merritt from a Reno prep school; and Christian Alcantar, 19, of Reno.

Williams has been charged with multiple felony counts including transportation of an assault weapon for sale, possession of large capacity magazines for sale, carrying a loaded and concealed firearm in a vehicle, being armed with a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Alcantar, who authorities said was with Williams in just the last transaction, has been charged with transporting an assault weapon for sale, possession of large capacity magazines for sale, and carrying a concealed weapon.

Mendocino authorities began investigating Williams several months ago after receiving a tip, said Michael Geniella, a spokesman for the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office.

In January and February undercover officers arranged to provide Williams with pounds of marijuana in exchange for guns he said he could provide, authorities said. One of the deals took place in Windsor but it was not revealed where the other one happened.

Three assault rifles, large-capacity magazines and two pistols were given to the officers for marijuana. The exact amount of marijuana and its value was not released.

Another deal was set for April 25 at a grocery store parking lot in the Oakland hills.

Authorities said besides guns, Williams was going to include a Jaguar car in the transaction.

Williams drove to the lot in the Jaguar and Alcantar was in another vehicle. They were both in Alcantar’s car when police swooped in and arrested them. Inside the Jaguar authorities said they found an assault rifle and a pistol.

Both men have pleaded not guilty and a preliminary hearing has been set for May 18. Williams is being held at the Mendocino County Jail in lieu of $700,000 bail and Alcantar’s bail is $165,000.

The prosecutor in the case is David Eyster, the Mendocino County District Attorney.

According to the Merritt College website, the 6-foot-7 Williams played 21 games for the basketball team this past season, averaging 6.1 points and 3.1 rebounds.

The college would only say Williams has not been seen or heard from since the end of fall classes.

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