A “scandal” kept so hidden by the Obama administration that it wasn’t even mentioned as being one of those “phony” scandals is back in the news with a report that three rifles from Operation Fast and Furious were found at crime scenes in Mexico.

CBS News’ Sharyl Attkisson reported “all three guns are WASR-10 762-caliber Romanian rifles” and all three were sold from the Lone Wolf gun shop in Arizona.

“Two were purchased by Fast and Furious suspect Uriel Patino in May and July of 2010,” Attkisson wrote. “Sean Steward, who was convicted on gun charges in July 2012, purchased a third.”

According to the new report:

During Fast and Furious and similar operations, federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) encouraged the Lone Wolf and other gun stores to sell massive amounts of weapons to questionable purchasers who allegedly trafficked them Mexican drug cartels.

Patino is said to have purchased 700 guns while under ATF’s watch. Ever since, a steady stream of the guns have been recovered at crime scenes in Mexico and the U.S. But the Justice Department has refused repeated requests from Congress and CBS News to provide a full accounting. An estimated 1,400 guns are still on the street or unaccounted for.

Weapons from the ATF gun-walking operation were used in the murders of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry in 2010 and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agent Jaime Zapata in 2011.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder’s refusal to release documents related to Fast and Furious led to him being held in contempt of Congress last June, Attkisson reminded.

“Then, the Obama administration used executive privilege for the first time, to withhold requested documents from Congress,” the report said.

More from CBS News.

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Janeen Capizola

"And though she be but little, she is fierce." And fun! This conservative-minded political junkie, mom of three, dancer and one-time NFL cheerleader holds a bachelor of arts degree in political science. [email protected]. Twitter: @JaneenBPR

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