USA Arizona gun shop owner indicted on terrorism charges for supplying weapons to Mexican cartels
Laurence Gray owns Grips By Larry, a former federally licensed gun store, and apparently trafficked military-style weapons
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A federal grand jury recently indicted the owner of an Arizona gun shop on terrorism-related charges for supplying firearms to two Mexican drug cartels designated as foreign terrorist organizations. Laurence Gray, 65, of Hereford, appeared in federal court in Phoenix on Wednesday charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and conspiring to provide support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. Gray owns Grips By Larry, a former federally licensed gun shop. The prosecution alleges that Gray knowingly attempted to supply firearms to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) on May 31, 2025, knowing that the criminal group had been designated a foreign terrorist organization by the Secretary of State on February 20, 2025. According to court documents, Gray also allegedly conspired with other individuals, both known and unknown to the grand jury, to supply firearms to both the CJNG and the Sinaloa Cartel between February 22, 2025, and June 11, 2025. The prosecution claims that Gray trafficked military-style weapons, including an Ohio Ordnance M-2-SLR .50 caliber rifle, a Barrett M82A1 .50 caliber rifle, and two FNH M249S belt-fed rifles. Gray had previously been indicted in June 2025 on firearms trafficking charges. along with Barrett Weinberger, 73, a Tucson resident. The charges included firearms trafficking, conspiracy to fraudulently purchase firearms, and conspiracy to make false statements during a firearms purchase. This amended indictment adds terrorism and other firearms-related charges against Gray. Each terrorism count carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both.
The case is part of Operation Take Back America, a Justice Department initiative launched in March 2025 to implement the Trump administration's policy objectives.
A memo from the deputy attorney general ordered the operation to "total elimination" of cartels in the United States, specifically naming the Sinaloa Cartel and the CJNG as targets.
Gray's next court hearing is scheduled for April 3,with a possible trial planned for May 5.