Identical triplets have been jailed in the UK for a plot to supply an "extremely dangerous criminal" with an Uzi sub-machine gun and a loaded pistol.
DNA found on the handgun was linked to Reiss, Ralston and Ricky Gabriel but it was impossible for police to prove which brother it belonged to.
Scotland Yard detectives carried out an extensive investigation to find out which man was involved in handling the firearms - but mobile phone and surveillance evidence revealed it was all three.
The 28-year-olds, from Edmonton in north London, were found guilty of conspiracy to possess firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life in July after a trial.
Ricky and Ralston, who are both semi-professional footballers, were each jailed for 14 years at Blackfriars Crown Court today.
Reiss, who also pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life after he was caught with a handgun on 26 July last year, and two counts of possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply, was jailed for a total of 18 years.
Sentencing the triplets, Judge John Hillen told them: "All three of you were involved in an agreement to source and deliver the weapons to an extremely dangerous criminal, Aron Thomas, for his use.
"One or more of you clearly had access to organised criminals or organised groups of criminals capable of obtaining firearms and ammunition for onward transfer."
The judge added: "These types of weapons would have been used against a person or persons, and a police intervention is the only reason any serious harm did not occur."
