SEAL Discharged, Awaits Sentencing in Smuggling Case

A former Navy SEAL has received an other-than-honorable discharge and awaits sentencing in a Las Vegas jail for his arms-smuggling conviction.

Nicholas Bickle, who was convicted in October on 13 charges, was supposed to have been sentenced this month but his lawyer, John Arrascada, asked for a delay because he just joined the case, The San Diego Tribune reported Monday. His sentencing is scheduled for April 27.

Bickle faces as much as 20 years in prison for smuggling AK-47 rifles and handguns from Iraq and giving them to co-conspirators to sell on the black market.

Lt. Cmdr. Frank Magallon of Naval Special Warfare Group 1 told the Tribune an other-than-honorable discharge was the most severe discharge Bickle could have received -- dishonorable and bad-conduct charges are only given at military courts-martial.

The discharge means Bickle can't use the GI Bill, get separation pay or wear his uniform at special occasions, the newspaper said.