A LaSalle mother of three will be sentenced in the new year for smuggling guns into Canada.
Sentencing submissions were heard in a Windsor courtroom Wednesday morning for 37-year old Michelle Downey.
After a trial, she was found guilty of 22 counts including importing restricted firearms and possession of a firearm with ammunition.
The defence is asking for a condition sentence less than two years while the crown wants three to four years in prison.
In April 2013, Downey was referred to secondary inspection at the Ambassador Bridge where Canada Border Services Agency officers found three loaded guns, magazines and ammunition in garbage bags behind the glove box of her vehicle.
The defence argued Downey is the sole provider for her children who are 20 years old and twins aged 15.
Assistant Crown Brian Manarin said this was a tragic case where a mother took it upon herself to smuggle "instruments of death" into Canada.
He called Downey a "firearm mule."
Defence lawyer Pat Ducharme says a conditional sentence is appropriate.
Downey testified she didn't know about the guns believing she was bringing in cash into the country.
Justice Scott Campbell told the court there are challenging issues with this case and put sentencing over to January.