Rick Reese took the stand in his own defense Friday and Monday, denying he had any idea that the guns he was selling would be used in Mexico. He maintained that story until the end of his testimony, when the prosecution got him to admit he did want the guns used for defense across the border.

The prosecution's main attack against Rick Reese involved his own words after he was caught on video telling an undercover informant he hopes the guns made it into Mexico to "shoot the (expletive) crooked "federales," meaning the Mexican federal police.

At first, Rick Reese insisted it was just banter between a salesman and a buyer, but he later changed his story.

He said he has a friend whose son was murdered and kidnapped in Mexico, and he wanted the guns to be used to defend the defenseless.

"Guns defend people," Rick Reese said.

Rick Reese, his wife, Terri Reese, and sons, Ryin Reese and Remington Reese, are accused of selling firearms and ammunition at their Deming gun store to undercover federal agents posing as straw-buyers for Mexican cartel members.

Rick Reese told the jury he would have never knowingly gotten his family involved with cartel members.

"My sons and my wife are my most precious possessions," Rick Reese said. "I would never put them in harm's way. As the father; leader of the family, I take that dead serious."

The defense tried to show the Reeses always followed proper procedure when selling firearms and ammunition.

"A man's word is his bond, and that's how we built our company," Rick Reese said.

The prosecution highlighted discrepancies between the dates in Reese's financial records and his financial history.

Ryin and Remington Reese chose not to testify in the trial.

Closing arguments are expected to begin Tuesday morning.